Uso della tecnologia GIS per valutare gli effetti sanitari dell'esposizione a lungo termine all'inquinamento atmosferico in un campione di popolazione residente a Pisa

This study aims to assess the effetcs of long term exposure to air pollution on human respiratory health status. We selected a general population sub-sample (those who were medicine users in the 1991-93 survey and a matched randomly selected control group). These subjects, in 2005, participated in a telephone interview about demographic characteristics, respiratory symptoms/diseases, comorbidity, and medicines consumption. People were classified on the basis of the distance of their house from atmospheric pollution sources, using GIS technology. Buffers of 100 metres from the main roads and buffer of 1100 metres from an industrial pollution source were considered. Living close to air pollution sources was associated with incidence of respiratory symptoms/diseases.