Background and Objective: Brindisi (south of Italy, 90.000 inhabitants) is an industrial town with different sources of air pollution. Industrial sites are near the coast, to SE of the conurbation and include: two power plants, a petrochemical plant, other industries and one of the largest European coal power plant. Other environmental impacting activities are: local traffic and highway (W), the harbour (E) and the airport (N). In a previous study we found positive associations between: i) daily PM10 levels and both mortality (natural and cardiovascular causes) and Hospital Admissions (HA, cerebrovascular causes); ii) daily NO2 and both mortality (natural and cardiovascular causes) and HA (cerebrovascular, cardiac and respiratory) in specific groups. Climatology shows wind directions from NW to NE as prevailing (more than 50%), strongest in velocity and usually associated to low pollutants concentration. Intense winds from S are also frequent, being associated with higher PM concentration. Lower wind intensities and highest NO2 are associated to E and W sectors. In this study we evaluate the role of the daily wind direction as effect modifier on the acute effects on HA, 2003-2005. Methods: Case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression were applied. Models include as confounders mean temperature, relative humidity, influence epidemics, summer decrease of resident population, holidays and were stratified by prevalent wind directions at the pollutants same time-lag. Results: PM10 and NO2 are adversely associated to daily cardiac, cerebrovascular and respiratory HA when wind blows from southern, eastern and western sectors. For both pollutants, significant not adverse effects on HA were found when wind blows from northern quarter. Conclusion: The high risks observed in the presence of a Southern wind suggest an important role of the industrial area in determining acute health effects. Further analyses are on going to evaluate the role of the Saharan outbreaks in the risk observed in correspondence of SSW-W wind direction
Acute effects of air pollution in Brindisi, 2003-2005. Is the answer blowing in the wind?
VIGOTTI, MARIA ANGELA
2009-01-01
Abstract
Background and Objective: Brindisi (south of Italy, 90.000 inhabitants) is an industrial town with different sources of air pollution. Industrial sites are near the coast, to SE of the conurbation and include: two power plants, a petrochemical plant, other industries and one of the largest European coal power plant. Other environmental impacting activities are: local traffic and highway (W), the harbour (E) and the airport (N). In a previous study we found positive associations between: i) daily PM10 levels and both mortality (natural and cardiovascular causes) and Hospital Admissions (HA, cerebrovascular causes); ii) daily NO2 and both mortality (natural and cardiovascular causes) and HA (cerebrovascular, cardiac and respiratory) in specific groups. Climatology shows wind directions from NW to NE as prevailing (more than 50%), strongest in velocity and usually associated to low pollutants concentration. Intense winds from S are also frequent, being associated with higher PM concentration. Lower wind intensities and highest NO2 are associated to E and W sectors. In this study we evaluate the role of the daily wind direction as effect modifier on the acute effects on HA, 2003-2005. Methods: Case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression were applied. Models include as confounders mean temperature, relative humidity, influence epidemics, summer decrease of resident population, holidays and were stratified by prevalent wind directions at the pollutants same time-lag. Results: PM10 and NO2 are adversely associated to daily cardiac, cerebrovascular and respiratory HA when wind blows from southern, eastern and western sectors. For both pollutants, significant not adverse effects on HA were found when wind blows from northern quarter. Conclusion: The high risks observed in the presence of a Southern wind suggest an important role of the industrial area in determining acute health effects. Further analyses are on going to evaluate the role of the Saharan outbreaks in the risk observed in correspondence of SSW-W wind directionI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
