Background: Evidence on the short-term effects of fine and coarse particles on morbidity in Europe is scarce and inconsistent. Objectives: To estimate the association between daily concentrations of fine and coarse particles with hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions in 8 Southern European cities, within the MED-PARTICLES project. Methods: City-specific Poisson models were fitted to estimate associations of daily concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 Œm (PM2.5), 10 (PM10) and their difference (PM2.5-10), with daily counts of emergency hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Pooled estimates were derived from random-effects meta-analysis and the robustness of results to co-pollutant exposure adjustment and model specification was evaluated. Pooled concentration-response curves were estimated using a meta-smoothing approach. Results: We found significant associations between all PM fractions and cardiovascular admissions. Increases of 10-Œg/m3 in PM2.5, 6.3-Œg/m3 in PM2.5-10 and 14.4-Œg/m3 in PM10 (lag 0-1 days) were associated with increases in cardiovascular admissions of 0.51% (95% CI: 0.12, 0.90%), 0.46% (95% CI: 0.10, 0.82%) and 0.53% (95% CI: 0.06, 1.00%), respectively. Stronger associations were estimated for respiratory hospitalizations, ranging from 1.15% (95% CI: 0.21, 2.11%) for PM10 to 1.36% (95% CI: 0.23, 2.49) for PM2.5 (lag 0-5 days). Conclusions: PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 were positively associated with cardiovascular and respiratory admissions in 8 Mediterranean cities. Information on the short-term effects of different PM fractions on morbidity in Southern Europe will be useful to inform European policies on air quality standards. (R.A.)
Auteur : Stafoggia M, Samoli E, Alessandrini E, Cadum E, Ostro B, Berti G, Faustini A, Jacquemin B, Linares C, Pascal M, Randi G, Ranzi A, Stivanello E
Environmental health perspectives, 2013, vol. 121, n°. 9, p. 1026-33
