[Environmental indicators in ten Italian cities (2001-2005): the air quality data for epidemiological surveillance].
OBJECTIVE
to produce environmental indicators suitable for an epidemiological surveillance in 10 Italian cities part of the EpiAir Project (2001-2005).


METHODS
the environmental parameters that correlate to relevant health effects are the particles with diameters less than or equal to 10 micrometers (PM10), the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and the ozone (O3). The necessary meteorological data are: temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure and apparent temperature.We have identified some criteria to select monitoring stations and have taken standard methods of calculation to produce environmental indicators starting from the daily data available after closely evaluating the completeness of the existing data. Furthermore, we have checked the homogeneity of the selected data to ensure that it represents the population's exposure.


RESULTS
close examination of descriptive statistics shows a critical situation of the considered pollutants. The analysis of the yearly state underlines for PM10 values higher than 40 microg/m3 in the area of Mestre-Venice and in Milan, Turin, Bologna e Taranto. For NO2, values are consistently above 40 microg/m3 in Milan, Turin, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Palermo. For ozone, the concentrations were stable, with the exception of Summer 2003 when we recorded, on average, an increase of 13% compared to the mean value estimated for the ten cities during the study period, especially in Mestre-Venice, Turin and Palermo.


CONCLUSIONS
it is important to ensure the consistency of the methods and instruments in environmental monitoring. To evaluate health effects and perform interventions over the longterm, it is therefore fundamental that the data be homogenous, especially during the periodic reorganizations and rationalizations of air quality management. It is also necessary to include daily meteorological data that influence pollutant dispersion and population health status.
Berti
Giovanna
G
Epidemiologia ambientale, ARPA Piemonte. g.berti@arpa.piemonte.it
Chiusolo
Monica
M
Grechi
Daniele
D
Grosa
Mauro
M
Rognoni
Magda
M
Tessari
Roberta
R
Pacelli
Barbara
B
Scarnato
Corrado
C
Mallone
Sandra
S
Vigotti
Maria Angela
MA
Stafoggia
Massimo
M
Primerano
Roberto
R
Accetta
Gabriele
G
Dessì
Maria Patrizia
MP
Cernigliaro
Achille
A
De'Donato
Francesca
F
Zanini
Gabriele
G
Forastiere
Francesco
F
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D004813:Epidemiology; D007558:Italy; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014504:Urban Health