title: Health effects of PM10 air pollution in a low-income country: the case of Algiers.
abstract: METHODS
  Although there are proven risk factors related to air pollution, the prevalent situation in low-income countries is not well known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the health impacts associated with particulate air pollution in the city of Algiers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study to evaluate a health impact assessment (HIA) approach based on a dose-response curve from the literature. A study area was defined around an air quality monitoring site in Algiers. Daily health data were obtained from a network of physicians practising in out-patient health centres.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the period studied, the number of consultations for respiratory reasons attributable to PM10 exposure was 439, representing 4.5% of all health events observed. Different scenarios were examined, showing that a reduction in ambient levels of PM10 would be accompanied by important public health gains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study allowed us to test the applicability of the HIA approach in a low-income country and to confirm the interest of the approach. Although the estimation of dose-response functions obeys a complex methodology, the HIA is an alternative that constitutes an important decision-making tool.
authors.affiliation: Service d'lnformation Sanitaire/Unite Sante Environnement, Institut National de Santé Publique, Algiers, Algeria. youceflaid@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Laïd
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atek
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oudjehane
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Filleul
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baough
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zidouni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boughedaoui
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tessier
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000397:Air Pollution; D000462:Algeria; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D011203:Poverty; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter