[Investigation on the health effects of traffic-related air pollution from Mestre motorway (Veneto Region, Northern Italy)].
OBJECTIVE
to evaluate whether living near motorway A57 (Mestre motorway, Veneto Region, Northern Italy) might have affected the residents' health status.


METHODS
longitudinal cohort study.


METHODS
148,673 residents on the mainland in the Municipality of Venice (Mestre) who never changed their residence during the follow- up period (2002-2009).


METHODS
the 2001 Italian census data were linked with the data sources of the epidemiological integrated system which includes: population registry, death certificates, hospital discharges, drug prescriptions, and tax exemption. Mortality and incidence for several subgroups of causes, incidence of acute myocardial infarction and stroke, and prevalence of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic cardiopathy and diabetes were estimated. The ADMS-Urban model was adopted to define three different exposure areas based on PM10 emissions from the motorway: A (highly exposed), B (moderately exposed) used as a comparison for the analysis, C (unexposed). Hazard ratios (HR) for incidence and mortality were estimated from Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for calendar period, age, gender, and instruction level. The relationship between the exposure area and prevalence was investigated by multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for the same covariates.


RESULTS
compared with B area (23.25%of the population under study), people living in A area (3.16% of the population under study) had an increased incidence of acute myocardial infarction (HR: 1.43; 95%CI 1.03-1.97) in females, and prevalence of ischemic cardiopathy (odds ratio - OR: 1.12; 95%CI 1.01-1.26) in both genders. Results were borderline for COPD in males (OR: 1.17; 95%CI 0.97-1.41). Positive but nonsignificant associations were found with pneumonia and respiratory recoveries.


CONCLUSIONS
this study showed that residents who live near Mestre motorway had an increased prevalence of some cardiorespiratory diseases, particularly ischemic cardiopathy.
Scuola di specializzazione in igiene e medicina preventiva, Università degli Studi di Padova. paola.anello@studenti.unipd.it.
Paola
P
Anello
Dipartimento di medicina molecolare, Laboratorio sanità pubblica e studi di popolazione, Università degli Studi di Padova.
Laura
L
Cestari
Dipartimento di medicina molecolare, Laboratorio sanità pubblica e studi di popolazione, Università degli Studi di Padova.
Cristina
C
Canova
Agenzia regionale per la prevenzione e protezione dell'ambiente (ARPA) Veneto, Venezia.
Luisa
L
Vianello
Agenzia regionale per la prevenzione e protezione dell'ambiente (ARPA) Veneto, Venezia.
Silvia
S
Pistollato
Agenzia regionale per la prevenzione e protezione dell'ambiente (ARPA) Veneto, Venezia.
Ketty
K
Lorenzet
Azienda ULSS 12, Venezia.
Rocco
R
Sciarrone
Azienda ULSS 12, Venezia.
Vittorio
V
Selle
Dipartimento di medicina molecolare, Laboratorio sanità pubblica e studi di popolazione, Università degli Studi di Padova.
Lorenzo
L
Simonato
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D013997:Time Factors
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter