[Impact of air pollution on the mortality and emergencies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in Barcelona].
OBJECTIVE
Air pollution has been associated with increased mortality according to studies carried out in the US. The APHEA project (Air Pollution on Health: a European Approach) analyzes the short-term effects in 15 european cities. We evaluated the acute relation between air pollution, mortality, and hospital emergency-room visits in Barcelona, one of the cities participating in the APHEA project.


METHODS
Daily variations in total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, and emergency-room visits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma were studied in relation to daily variations in air pollution levels in 1985-1991. Poisson regression was done and temperature, relative humidity, and epidemics of asthma and flu were controlled. Temporal trends and auto-regressive terms were examined.


RESULTS
A reduction of about 50 micrograms/m3 in particles and sulfur dioxide was accompanied by a reduction of about 4% and 6% (p < 0.05), respectively, in daily deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular causes and emergency-room visits for COPD. Oxidant pollutants (nitrogen dioxide and ozone) were related positively with cardiovascular mortality and emergency visits for COPD and asthma. The role of ozone was notable, with a reduction in ozone levels of 50 micrograms/m3 originating a 4% reduction in emergency-room visits for COPD and asthma (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Current levels of air pollutants had an epidemiologically measurable impact on mortality and emergency-room visits in Barcelona. These results were consistent with the findings of similar studies in other european and american cities and with previous studies of emergency-room admissions in Barcelona. These studies suggest the possible toxicity of air pollution.
Tobías Garcés
A
A
Unitat de Recerca Respiratòria i Ambiental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Sunyer Deu
J
J
Castellsagué Piqué
J
J
Sáez Zafra
M
M
Antó Boqué
J M
JM
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000401:mortality*; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D000393:Air Pollutants; D012906:Smoke
Impacto de la contaminación atmosférica sobre la mortalidad y las urgencias por enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y asma en Barcelona.