Impact of air pollution on health in Beirut- BAPHE (Beirut AirPollution and Health Effects) protocol and results

摘要

Background In the past few years, Saint-Joseph University (USJ) through its Air Quality Research Unit has taken up a long-term process to set-up a permanent air quality monitoring system. Results of air pollution assessment disseminated for public and decision makers exceeded the WHO standards. Aims Our specific aim is to conduct a descriptive epidemiological study for 18 months in 7 hospitals in the city of Beirut in order to evaluate the association between health indicators and specific pollutant levels NO2, PM10 and PM2.5. Methods The study is based on time series analysis comparing short-term (daily) variations in exposure with short-term variations in population health, using daily emergency visits and hospitalization count as health indicators for respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and allergic diseases. Results Several data sources are examined to identify the most appropriate source. Clinical terms are identified and classified. The health indicators finally adopted are admissions through emergency units for: respiratory diseases (Codes ICM 10: J00-J99), cardio-vascular diseases (Codes ICM 10: 100-199), cerebrovascular diseases (Codes ICM 10:I60-I64 and G43- G46) and allergic disease (Codes ICM 10: L50-L54 and T886). In addition, information on gender, age and the treatment given for the patients at the emergency units are collected. Quality assurance procedures for data management and archiving are elaborated. Data for more than 12000 individuals presenting respiratory and other diseases considered in BAPHE have been collected and analyzed for 12 months. The results of 18 months 'study will be disseminated and published in May 2013 and during the Conference of ISEE, ISES and ISIAQ in Basel, Switzerland (August, 2013).Conclusions BAPHE took into consideration all the suggestions made by these studies in order to respond to an inherent need to quantify the effect of air pollution on health by conducting an eco-epidemiological study.