[The short-term effects of air pollution on mortality. The results of the EMECAM project in Saragossa, 1991-1995. Estudio Multicéntrico Español sobre la Relación entre la Contaminación Atmosférica y la Mortalidad].
BACKGROUND
To assess the short-term impact of pollution on the respiratory death rate in the city of Saragossa throughout the 1991-1995 period and to pinpoint whether any differences exists in terms of age and time of the year.


METHODS
The relationship of daily concentrations of smog and SO2 to the daily deaths due to respiratory diseases (CIE-9 460-486) and chronic lung blockage disease and similar EPOC-EA (490-496) was analyzed using Poisson models in keeping with the EMECAM procedure. Possible differences in the impact on those below and over age 70 and according to the six-month period in question were researched. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence, intervals (CI95%) WERE CALCULATED FOR 10 micrograms/m3 rises in pollutant.


RESULTS
A relationship was found to exist between the respiratory and smog death rate (RR 1.028 CI95% 1.006-1051), the highest risk being during the six-months period of warm weather. For those individuals over age 70, the relationship remained the same throughout this six-month period and was negative for those individuals under age 70. The RR's for the death rate based on EPOC-EA were, overall, 1.038 (CI95% 1.002-1075) and of 1.068 (CI95%: 1.004-1.137) for the six-month period of warm weather. The SO2 pollution showed a positive relationship to the respiratory death rate for the warm period for all ages, RR 1.093 (CI95%: 1.006-1.187) and for those under age 70 (RR 1.240 CI95%: 1.028-1.496). The impact was not conclusive for the cases of pneumonia.


CONCLUSIONS
Low levels of air pollution can have a significant impact on the respiratory death rate, especially among the elderly and during the six-month period of warm weather.
Diputación General de Aragón, Zaragoza. farribas@aragob.es
F
F
Arribas Monzón
T
T
Alcalá Nalvaiz
J M
JM
Abad Díez
M
M
Navarro Elipe
M del C
Mdel C
Martos Jiménez
M J
MJ
Rabanaque Hernández
S
S
Zapatero Molinera
E
E
Muniesa Casamayor
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide
Efectos a corto plazo de la contaminación atmosférica sobre la mortalidad. Resultados del proyecto EMECAM en Zaragoza, 1991-1995.