title: Air pollution and related respiratory diseases: the experience of a local health authority in Liguria (north Italy).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that air pollution due to both industry and heavy traffic has short- and long-term effects on health. The study was carried out in an industrial area with heavy urban and motorway traffic in the Province of Genoa (Italy).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out from June 2005 to July 2008. An epidemiologic study was conducted by monitoring an elementary/middle school situated in an area of recent industrial development and an elementary/middle school located in an area free from sources of industrial pollution. Furthermore, we conducted an investigation of workers in commercial premises situated in one area of heavy vehicular traffic. In the study areas, environmental monitoring campaigns were carried out in order to determine the association between indoor and outdoor pollution and respiratory disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study did not bring to light any specific health problems attributable with certainty to industrial emissions. The impact of pollution caused by motor traffic proved to be greater than that due to industrial emissions. More exhaustive sampling campaigns should be implemented in order to quantify the effects of specific sources of emissions and to correlate these sources with pollutants (industry, urban traffic, motorway traffic).
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy. panatto@unige.it
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panatto
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amicizia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marensi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tatarek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bosi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tofanelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gasparini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter