Background: The health effects of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have
received less attention in epidemiologic studies than other commonly measured ambient
pollutants. In this study, we estimated acute cardiorespiratory effects of ambient VOCs in an
urban population. Methods: Daily concentrations of 89 VOCs were measured at a centrally-
located ambient monitoring site in Atlanta and daily counts of emergency department visits
for cardiovascular diseases and asthma in the five-county Atlanta area were obtained for the …