Health effects of air pollution in southern Europe: Are there interacting factors?

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Environmental Health Perspectives

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.95103s223· OSTI ID:482230

Katsouyanni, K ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Athens Medical School (Greece)

Recent results suggest that adverse health effects of air pollution exist at levels of pollutants around or even below air quality standards set by national and international institutions. Furthermore, there are indications that air pollution effects on health may be partly determined by specific mixtures of air pollutants and may be altered by other environmental, behavioral, and social patterns. Southern European countries share some common characteristics in terms of climate, geography, and life activity patterns. Results from studies undertaken in France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain investigating short- and long-term air pollution health effects are presented and their consistency demonstrated. These results provide adequate evidence that health effects-particularly short-term-of the currently measured urban air pollution levels exist. However, information available so far does not allow an assessment of regional differences in the health effects of air pollution as far as the Mediterranean region of Europe is concerned, It is suggested that the interaction between the traditional pollution (mainly characterized by high levels of black smoke and SO{sub 2}) and photochemical pollution must be investigated in this area, as well as the possible interaction between air pollution and high temperature and other meteorologic factors. In addition, measurements of individual exposure to different pollutants, affected by the pollutant`s levels in specific microenvironments and the individual`s time-activity pattern, must be undertaken for a better understanding of the air pollution-health link. Finally, the importance the reported air pollution health effects in terms of public health must be addressed more closely. 33 refs., 1 tab.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 482230
• Report Number(s): CONF-9308287--
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives, Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives Journal Issue: Suppl.2 Vol. 103; ISSN 0091-6765; ISSN EVHPAZ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CLIMATES
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
EXHAUST GASES
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
INHALATION
MORTALITY
NITROGEN OXIDES
OZONE
PUBLIC HEALTH
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SULFUR DIOXIDE