Assessment and prevention of acute health effects of weather conditions in Europe, the PHEWE project: background, objectives, design
Loading...
Date
Authors
Michelozzi, P.
Kirchmayer, U.
Katsouyanni, K.
Biggeri, A.
McGregor, G.
Menne, B.
Kassomenos, P.
Anderson, H. R.
Baccini, M.
Accetta, G.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Type
Type of the conference item
Journal type
peer reviewed
Educational material type
Conference Name
Journal name
Environmental Health
Book name
Book series
Book edition
Alternative title / Subtitle
Description
Background: The project "Assessment and prevention of acute health effects of weather conditions in Europe" (PHEWE) had the aim of assessing the association between weather conditions and acute health effects, during both warm and cold seasons in 16 European cities with widely differing climatic conditions and to provide information for public health policies. Methods: The PHEWE project was a three-year pan-European collaboration between epidemiologists, meteorologists and experts in public health. Meteorological, air pollution and mortality data from 16 cities and hospital admission data from 12 cities were available from 1990 to 2000. The short-term effect on mortality/morbidity was evaluated through city-specific and pooled time series analysis. The interaction between weather and air pollutants was evaluated and health impact assessments were performed to quantify the effect on the different populations. A heat/health watch warning system to predict oppressive weather conditions and alert the population was developed in a subgroup of cities and information on existing prevention policies and of adaptive strategies was gathered. Results: Main results were presented in a symposium at the conference of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology in Paris on September 6th 2006 and will be published as scientific articles. The present article introduces the project and includes a description of the database and the framework of the applied methodology. Conclusion: The PHEWE project offers the opportunity to investigate the relationship between temperature and mortality in 16 European cities, representing a wide range of climatic, socio-demographic and cultural characteristics; the use of a standardized methodology allows for direct comparison between cities.
Description
Keywords
epidemiologic time-series, heat-related mortality, red-cell counts, air-pollution, hospital admissions, cerebral thrombosis, excess mortality, blood-viscosity, greater london, united-states
Subject classification
Citation
Link
<Go to ISI>://000247334400001
http://www.ehjournal.net/content/pdf/1476-069X-6-12.pdf
http://www.ehjournal.net/content/pdf/1476-069X-6-12.pdf
Language
en
Publishing department/division
Advisor name
Examining committee
General Description / Additional Comments
Institution and School/Department of submitter
Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων. Σχολή Επιστημών και Τεχνολογιών. Τμήμα Βιολογικών Εφαρμογών και Τεχνολογιών