Time-series analysis of air pollution and mortality: a statistical review.

The Walter A Rosenblith New Investigator Award provided funding to explore new statistical approaches for air pollution research. This report reviews and summarizes the methodologic and substantive contributions to time-series analyses of air pollution and mortality that this award made possible. The review is organized according to the following general topics: (1) semiparametric methods for time-series analyses of air pollution and mortality; (2) explorations into the sensitivity of generalized additive models (GAMs*) applied to time-series data; (3) combining information in multisite time-series studies; (4) effects of misclassification of exposure; (5) mortality displacement; (6) shape of the concentration-response curve; and (7) ongoing projects and future directions. Appendix A includes abstracts of papers published as reports and in peer-reviewed journals.