Health effects of air pollution: a Southern European perspective.
10.1097/CM9.0000000000000869
- VernacularTitle:Health effects of air pollution: a Southern European perspective
- Author:
Giovanni VIEGI
1
;
Sandra BALDACCI
2
;
Sara MAIO
2
;
Salvatore FASOLA
1
;
Isabella ANNESI-MAESANO
3
;
Francesco PISTELLI
4
;
Laura CARROZZI
5
;
Stefania LA GRUTTA
1
;
Francesco FORASTIERE
1
Author Information
1. National Research Council (NCR) Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), 90146 Palermo, Italy.
2. National Research Council (NCR) Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), 56126 Pisa, Italy.
3. Department of Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases, Sorbonne Université and INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, F75012 Paris, France.
4. Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular, University Hospital of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.
5. Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Chinese Medical Journal
2020;133(13):1568-1574
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To summarize the main updated evidence about the health effects of air pollution, with a special focus on Southern Europe.
DATA SOURCES:Literature was obtained through PubMed Central and the official websites of European Agencies and Scientific Societies.
STUDY SELECTION:Recent shreds of evidence about the health effects of air pollution coming from international reports and original research were collected and described in this review.
RESULTS:Air pollution is an avoidable risk factor that causes a huge burden for society, in terms of death, health disorders, and huge socio-economic costs. The southern European countries face a more threatening problem because they experience the effects of both anthropogenic pollutants and natural dusts (particulate matter [PM]). The European Environment Agency reported the number of premature deaths in the 28 countries of the European Union attributable to air pollutant exposure in the year 2016: 374,000 for PM2.5, 68,000 for nitrogen dioxide, and 14,000 for ozone. In Italy, time series and analytical epidemiological studies showed increased cardio-respiratory hospital admissions and mortality, as well as increased risk of respiratory diseases in people living in urban areas.
CONCLUSIONS:Based on abundant evidence, the World Health Organization, which hosts the Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD), the scientific respiratory societies, and the patients' associations, as well as others in the health sector, must increase their engagement in advocacy for clean air policies.
