A new air quality perception scale for global assessment of air pollution health effects.

International audienceDespite improvements in air quality in developed countries, air pollution remains a major public health issue. To fully assess the health impact, we must consider that air pollution exposure has both physical and psychological effects; this latter dimension, less documented, is more difficult to measure and subjective indicators constitute an appropriate alternative. In this context, this work presents the methodological development of a new scale to measure the perception of air quality, useful as an exposure or risk appraisal metric in public health contexts. On the basis of the responses from 2,522 subjects in eight French cities, psychometric methods are used to construct the scale from 22 items that assess risk perception (anxiety about health and quality of life) and the extent to which air pollution is a nuisance (sensorial perception and symptoms). The scale is robust, reproducible, and discriminates between subpopulations more susceptible to poor air pollution perception. The individual risk factors of poor air pollution perception are coherent with those findings in the risk perception literature. Perception of air pollution by the general public is a key issue in the development of comprehensive risk assessment studies as well as in air pollution risk management and policy. This study offers a useful new tool to measure such efforts and to help set priorities for air quality improvements in combination with air quality measurements

Relationship between pollen concentrations and short-acting β2-agonist bronchodilator sales in central France: a daily time-series analysis over a 5-year period

Seasonal asthma may be associated with pollen exposure [1], but the pollens responsible for these exacerbations are not well known. The association between ambient pollen and asthma reflected in emergency department visits and hospitalisations, although studied intensively, has shown inconsistent results [2–4]. In contrast to these infrequent events, short-acting β2-agonists (SABA) are widely used by patients experiencing increased respiratory symptoms, which translates into increased sales. Respiratory drug sales have been successfully used in ecological studies to illustrate the relationship between asthma and outdoor air pollution [5]. This study is intended to test the relationship between exposure to outdoor pollen in the general population of a continental climate medium-sized town in the centre of France, and SABA sales, over a 5-year period

Traffic-related air pollution and the onset of myocardial infarction: disclosing benzene as a trigger? A small-area case-crossover study.

Exposure to traffic is an established risk factor for the triggering of myocardial infarction (MI). Particulate matter, mainly emitted by diesel vehicles, appears to be the most important stressor. However, the possible influence of benzene from gasoline-fueled cars has not been explored so far.We conducted a case-crossover study from 2,134 MI cases recorded by the local Coronary Heart Disease Registry (2000-2007) in the Strasbourg Metropolitan Area (France). Available individual data were age, gender, previous history of ischemic heart disease and address of residence at the time of the event. Nitrogen dioxide, particles of median aerodynamic diameter <10 µm (PM10), ozone, carbon monoxide and benzene air concentrations were modeled on an hourly basis at the census block level over the study period using the deterministic ADMS-Urban air dispersion model. Model input data were emissions inventories, background pollution measurements, and meteorological data. We have found a positive, statistically significant association between concentrations of benzene and the onset of MI: per cent increase in risk for a 1 µg/m3 increase in benzene concentration in the previous 0, 0-1 and 1 day was 10.4 (95% confidence interval 3-18.2), 10.7 (2.7-19.2) and 7.2 (0.3-14.5), respectively. The associations between the other pollutants and outcome were much lower and in accordance with the literature.We have observed that benzene in ambient air is strongly associated with the triggering of MI. This novel finding needs confirmation. If so, this would mean that not only diesel vehicles, the main particulate matter emitters, but also gasoline-fueled cars--main benzene emitters-, should be taken into account for public health action

Air pollution by particulate matter PM10 may trigger multiple sclerosis relapses

International audienceBackground - Seasonal variation of relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) suggests that season-dependent factors, such as ambient air pollution, may trigger them. However, only few studies have considered possible role of air pollutants as relapse's risk factor. Objective - We investigated the effect of particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10µm (PM) on MS relapses. Methods - In total, 536 relapsing MS patients from Strasbourg city (France) were included, accounting for 2052 relapses over 2000-2009 period. A case-crossover design was used with cases defined as the days of relapse and controls being selected in the same patient at plus and minus 35 days. Different lags from 0 to 30 days were considered. Conditional logistic regressions, adjusted on meteorological parameters, school and public holidays, were used and exposure was considered first as a quantitative variable and second, as a binary variable. Results - The natural logarithm of the average PM concentration lagged from 1 to 3 days before relapse onset was significantly associated with relapse risk (OR =1.40 [95% confidence interval 1.08-1.81]) in cold season. Consistent results were observed when considering PM as a binary variable, even if not significant. Conclusion - With an appropriate study design and robust ascertainment of neurological events and exposure, the present study highlights the effect of PM on the risk of relapse in MS patients, probably through oxidative stress mechanisms

Health disturbances and exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile-phone base stations in French urban areas

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Air pollutants daily concentrations (µg/m³) and meteorological parameters in the Strasbourg (France) Metropolitan Area, 2000–2007.

<p>Air pollutants daily concentrations (µg/m³) and meteorological parameters in the Strasbourg (France) Metropolitan Area, 2000–2007.</p

Ambient air pollution daily mean value correlation coefficients, Strasbourg (France) Metropolitan Area, 2000–2007.

<p>Ambient air pollution daily mean value correlation coefficients, Strasbourg (France) Metropolitan Area, 2000–2007.</p

Exposure to air pollution and the onset of a myocardial infarction in the Strasbourg (France) Metropolitan Area, 2000–2007, by subgroups^a.

a<p>Associations observed for different lag times; excess odds ratios (eOR) are expressed as per cent (95% confidence interval) increase for <i>i</i>) a 1 µg/m³ increase in benzene concentrations; <i>ii</i>) a 10 µg/m³ in NO₂, O₃ and PM₁₀ concentrations and <i>iii</i>) a 100 µg/m³ increase in CO concentrations. Adjusted for the previous day maximum atmospheric pressure, same day minimum temperature and influenza epidemics.</p><p>*p<0.05.</p><p>**p<0.001.</p

Myocardial infarction events (ICD-9: 410) collected by the Bas-Rhin Coronary Heart Disease Register, Strasbourg Metropolitan Area, France, 2000–2007.

<p>Myocardial infarction events (ICD-9: 410) collected by the Bas-Rhin Coronary Heart Disease Register, Strasbourg Metropolitan Area, France, 2000–2007.</p