TY - JOUR T1 - Use of GIS technology to analyse the health effect of exposure to heavy traffic pollution in an Italian general population sample JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P1550 AU - Giuseppe Sarno AU - Fabio Tonini AU - Sara Maio AU - Sonia Cerrai AU - Sandra Baldacci AU - Martina Fresta AU - Franca Martini AU - Anna Angino AU - Francesco Di Pede AU - Giovanni Viegi Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1550.abstract N2 - Background: Several studies have found associations between exposure to heavy traffic pollution and respiratory diseases.The Geographical Information System (GIS) technology applied to epidemiological studies allows to integrate and analyze data coming from different sources with a spatial characterization.Aim: to assess the relation between the respiratory health status and exposure to heavy traffic pollution, using GIS technology.Methods: a sample of subjects living in Pisa was selected within the European IMCA2 project (Indicators for Monitoring COPD and Asthma in the EU). A questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, respiratory symptoms/diseases and risk factors was used. 540 people were classified, using GIS, on the basis of the distance of their house from main road: <150 metres, exposed subjects; >150 metres, controls. In addition, based on the daily heavy traffic annual average (DHTAA) data, the exposed subjects were classified as: highly exposed (DHTAA+), if living near roads with DHTAA ≥ 33; moderately exposed (DHTAA-), if living near roads with DHTAA < 33.Results: living close to roads with heavy traffic with respect to living far from roads with heavy traffic (>150 m) was associated with COPD symptoms/diagnosis. In particular, DHTAA+ had a significant higher risk of: usual phlegm (OR 1.85), usual cough (OR 2.18), COPD symptoms/diagnosis (OR 1.96); DHTAA- had a significant higher risk of: usual cough (OR 1.87), COPD symptoms/diagnosis (OR 1.87).Conclusions: heavy traffic individual exposure, objectively evaluated through GIS technology, is associated with COPD symptoms/diagnosis. ER -