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Editorial
. 2025 Nov;211(11):1986-1988.
doi: 10.1164/rccm.202505-1137ED.

Natural Experiments: An Efficient Tool for Population Respiratory Health Evaluation

Daniel P Croft  1   2 , David Q Rich  1   3   4
Affiliations
Editorial

Natural Experiments: An Efficient Tool for Population Respiratory Health Evaluation

Daniel P Croft et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2025 Nov.
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Interaction between data resources, accountability studies, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rulemaking. Multiple federal (orange boxes) and state/local (blue boxes) agencies are involved in contributing data to a natural experiment like the Shenango study, which can inform EPA air quality standards. AHRQ = Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; HHS = U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; NAAQS = National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

References

    1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 12.2 coke production. 2008. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/documents/c12s02_may08.pdf
    1. Bălă GP, Râjnoveanu R-M, Tudorache E, Motișan R, Oancea C. Air pollution exposure—the (in)visible risk factor for respiratory diseases. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int . 2021;28:19615–19628. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Yu W, Thurston GD. Reductions in respiratory hospital visits after a coal coking plant closure: a natural experiment. Am J Respir Crit Care Med . 2025;211 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Boogaard H, van Erp AM, Walker KD, Shaikh R. Accountability studies on air pollution and health: the HEI experience. Curr Environ Health Rep . 2017;4:514–522. - PubMed
    1. Rich DQ. Accountability studies of air pollution and health effects: lessons learned and recommendations for future natural experiment opportunities. Environ Int . 2017;100:62–78. - PMC - PubMed

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