[The short-term effects of air pollution on mortality. The results of the EMECAM project in Vitoria-Gasteiz, 1990-94. Estudio Multicéntrico Español sobre la Relación entre la Contaminación Atmosférica y la Mortalidad].
BACKGROUND
The objective of this article is that of assessing the short-term relationship between the black smoke (SM) and SO2 levels and the mortality in Vitoria-Gasteiz over a five-year period by means of employing the procedure for analysis standardized in the EMECAM Project.


METHODS
Ecological time series study aimed at estimating the relationship between the daily fluctuations in the mortality (total mortality of all ages and total death rate for those over age 70) and air pollution (sulfur dioxide-SO2 and black smoke), employing the Poisson regression models. The EMECAM methodology was followed.


RESULTS
The median of daily deaths was three for the entire population and two for the elderly. The mean black smoke level was 51.15 micrograms/m3 and that of SO2 18.04 micrograms/m3. A statistically significant relationship was found to exist between black smoke and the mortality for the elderly through the cold half of the year, with an RR of 1.014 (CI95%: 1.002-1.026), pertinent to a 10 micrograms/m3 rise in the pollutant. A threshold at 80-90 micrograms/m3 seemed to be detected for black smoke. The relationship with SO2 was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The black smoke levels for the period studied are related to a rise in the mortality among the elderly, tallying with the results of other studies.
Pérez Boillos
M J
MJ
Departamento Municipal de Salud y Consumo, Ayuntamiento de Vitoria-Gasteiz.
López
A A
AA
Estibalez González
J J
JJ
García Calabuig
M A
MA
D000368:Aged; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006801:Humans; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Efectos a corto plazo de la contaminación atmosférica sobre la mortalidad. Resultados del proyecto EMECAM en Vitoria-Gasteiz, 1990-94.