The influence of the aerosanitary and bio-meteorological conditions on the mortality of the inhabitans of Warsaw

The issue considered in the paper was approached on the basis of the daily synoptic maps from the years 1994 and 1995, provided by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Economy, the concentrations of air pollutants in Warsaw (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, and dusts in the air), supplied by the Institute of Environmental Protection, as well as the fundamental meteorological elements in Warsaw. Side by side with these data the detailed information on the deaths registered in Warsaw were made use of, as provided by the Central Statistical Office (GUS). In the search for the causes of deaths it is essential to distinguish the meteorotropic situations, mainly the pressure settings - high and low pressure situations, as well as the passages of atmospheric fronts over Warsaw, and the advection of the air masses. A cognitive significance should also be attributed to the identification of the extreme weather and aerosanitary conditions, and other variables (daily trends) in the particular seasons of the year, bringing particularly high hazard levels for the life of the inhabitants of Warsaw. Likewise, it is not without significance for the inhabitants of the capital what are the bioclimatic conditions defined through the scale of thermal sensations. Thus, for instance, the discomfort, resulting from the overheating (during the long-lasting hot weather) or the overcooling (during strong frosts), usually leads to the increase of the number of deaths

Thermal differences between the housing estates of different ratio of biologically vital areas

The paper presents the partial results of the multidisciplinary project assessing the ratio of biologically vital areas (RBVA) as an indicator in spatial planning of the housing estates in Poland. The article focuses on air temperature differences between the 18 housing estates characterized by different RBVA, different surrounding, the age of buildings, arrangement etc. The automatic measurements of the air temperature in each of estate were conducted from autumn 2008 to July 2010. They indicate that the warmest housing estates are those of the smallest participation of green areas (less than 20%), situated in the city centre but also those of RBVA c. 40%. The coldest are the estates of peripheral location but also those with higher participation of biologically vital area (up to 60%). The thermal differences between them reach 9.6°C in summer and 5.5°C in winter. The results point out the RBVA threshold of c. 45% above which the function of the natural environment in the city is not completely changed

Le sevrage tabagique des « fumeurs difficiles »

International audienceSmoking cessation specialists are frequently confronted with smokers who have great difficulty in stopping smoking, and who are either motivated to stop or are forced to stop for health, economic or statutory reasons. These smokers are composed of a mixed population but they have in common a heavy dependence on tobacco and a significant level of cigarette consumption. They are exposed to serious morbidity induced by their uncontrollable smoking. Other factors unfavourable to the attempt to stop smoking are often present: anxiety-depressive disorders, socioeconomic difficulties or the use of psychoactive substances. They constitute a priority target for smoking cessation clinics, which must optimise and diversify proposals to improve their interventions. This review describes these highly dependent smokers unable to stop, and suggests medical treatments and therapeutic combinations to assist the practitioners trying to help the “hard-core” smokers.Les spécialistes en tabacologie sont fréquemment confrontés à des fumeurs en grande difficulté pour s’arrêter de fumer, qu’ils soient motivés à le faire ou qu’ils y soient contraints pour des raisons sanitaires, économiques ou réglementaires. Ces fumeurs constituent une population hétérogène, mais ils ont en commun une forte dépendance au tabac et une importante consommation de cigarettes. Ils sont exposés aux conséquences morbides induites par leur incoercible tabagisme. Ils cumulent souvent d’autres facteurs défavorables à la réussite de la tentative de sevrage : troubles anxiodépressifs, co-consommations de substances psychoactives, précarité socioéconomique. Ils constituent une cible prioritaire des consultations spécialisées d’aide à l’arrêt du tabagisme. Ces dernières doivent optimiser et diversifier leurs propositions d’aide afin d’améliorer leurs interventions. Cette synthèse décrit ces consommateurs très dépendants en échec dans l’arrêt du tabagisme et présente les traitements médicamenteux et combinaisons thérapeutiques susceptibles d’aider le praticien dans la prise en charge de ces « fumeurs difficiles »