title: [Environmental indicators in ten Italian cities (2001-2005): the air quality data for epidemiological surveillance].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiologia ambientale, ARPA Piemonte. g.berti@arpa.piemonte.it
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiusolo
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grechi
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grosa
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rognoni
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tessari
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pacelli
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scarnato
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallone
authors.forename: Maria Angela
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vigotti
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stafoggia
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Primerano
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Accetta
authors.forename: Maria Patrizia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dessì
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cernigliaro
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De'Donato
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forastiere
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D004813:Epidemiology; D007558:Italy; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014504:Urban Health