Research
Geographical information system and environmental epidemiology: a cross-sectional spatial analysis of the effects of traffic-related air pollution on population respiratory health
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* Corresponding author: Daniela Nuvolone daniela.nuvolone@asf.toscana.it
1 Epidemiology Unit, Regional Agency of Public Health of Tuscany (ARS), Via Pietro Dazzi 1, I-50141 Florence, Italy
2 Information Systems Technology Centre, Institute of Information Science and Technologies 'Alessandro Faedo', Italian National Research Council (ISTI-CNR), Via G. Moruzzi 1, I-56124 Pisa, Italy
3 Pulmonary Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Italian National Research Council (IFC-CNR), Via Trieste 41, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
4 Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Italian National Research Council (IBIM-CNR), Via Ugo La Malfa 153, I-90146 Palermo, Italy
Environmental Health 2011, 10:12 doi:10.1186/1476-069X-10-12
Published: 1 March 2011Abstract
Background
Traffic-related air pollution is a potential risk factor for human respiratory health. A Geographical Information System (GIS) approach was used to examine whether distance from a main road (the Tosco-Romagnola road) affected respiratory health status.
Methods
We used data collected during an epidemiological survey performed in the Pisa-Cascina area (central Italy) in the period 1991-93. A total of 2841 subjects participated in the survey and filled out a standardized questionnaire on health status, socio-demographic information, and personal habits. A variable proportion of subjects performed lung function and allergy tests. Highly exposed subjects were defined as those living within 100 m of the main road, moderately exposed as those living between 100 and 250 m from the road, and unexposed as those living between 250 and 800 m from the road. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare the risks for respiratory symptoms and diseases between exposed and unexposed. All analyses were stratified by gender.
Results
The study comprised 2062 subjects: mean age was 45.9 years for men and 48.9 years for women. Compared to subjects living between 250 m and 800 m from the main road, subjects living within 100 m of the main road had increased adjusted risks for persistent wheeze (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.08-2.87), COPD diagnosis (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.03-3.08), and reduced FEV1/FVC ratio (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.11-3.87) among males, and for dyspnea (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.13-2.27), positivity to skin prick test (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.11-3.00), asthma diagnosis (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 0.97-2.88) and attacks of shortness of breath with wheeze (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 0.98-2.84) among females.
Conclusion
This study points out the potential effects of traffic-related air pollution on respiratory health status, including lung function impairment. It also highlights the added value of GIS in environmental health research.