Example environmental science dissertation topic 4:

Daily death counts: Mortality and air pollution in Hong Kong.

This dissertation seeks to investigate the linkage between air pollution levels and mortality rates in Hong Kong in the period 2010 – 2012. Using regression analysis this dissertation measures both the yearly air quality of Hong Kong in accordance with the protocols noted by the World Health organisation (namely levels of nitrogen dioxide and respirable particulate matter) and occurrences of mortality due to pneumonia, respiratory disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In so doing this dissertation first isolates the top 5% of days in the two year study period in which air pollutant levels were at their highest and lowest and then compares these to recorded mortality rates on those days. Through so doing it seeks not only to advance the hypothesis that there is a direct causal link but also to proffer policy options by which such rates of pollution and mortality could be reduced.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Ko, F.W.S., Tam, W., Wong, T.W., Lai, C.K.W., Wong, G.W.K., Leung, T.-F., Ng, S.S.S. and Hui, D.S.C. (2007). ‘Effects of air pollution on asthma hospitalization rates in different age groups in Hong Kong’, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Vol. 37, pp. 1312-1319.
• Laden, F., Schwartz, J., Speizer, F.E. and Dockery, D.W. (2006). ‘Reduction in fine particulate air pollution and mortality: Extended follow-up of the Harvard Six Cities Study’, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol. 173(6), pp. 667-672.
• Wong, C.M., Vichit-Vadakan, N., Kan, H. and Chian, Z. (2008). ‘Public Health and Air Pollution in Asia (PAPA): A multicity study of short-term effects of air pollution on mortality’, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 116(9), pp. 1195-1202.