[Assessment of exposure to traffic pollution in epidemiological studies: a review].
BACKGROUND
Automobile exhaust is a major source of air pollution in urban areas. To study health effects of traffic exhaust fumes epidemiologists need specific tools in order to achieve a precise assessment of human exposure to traffic air pollution (TAP) and avoid misclassification. The aim of this review is to study the different ways of assessing human exposure to TAP in epidemiological studies dealing with short-term or long-term health effects of TAP.


METHODS
After presenting the different designs and goals of the studies mentioned above, this review focuses on methods of assessing exposure to TAP and their different associated health endpoints.


RESULTS
To assess exposure to TAP, most published studies have used more or less complex exposure indices. Several teams have used residence location and its proximity to traffic, traffic counts, or a combination of both. More recently, some authors have developed mathematical dispersion models and statistical regression models.


CONCLUSIONS
Our analysis shows that reliable and validated tools would be needed to assess accurately human exposure to TAP. This can only be achieved with statistical regression models and mathematical dispersion models. Although such methods may be difficult to implement, their use can be facilitated by adding a geographic information system.
Reungoat
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Service Santé Publique et Environnement, Université René Descartes - Paris 5, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques de Paris-Luxembourg, 4, avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris.
Chiron
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Momas
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004813:Epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000009:adverse effects*
D001335:Vehicle Emissions