Effects of Traffic Air Pollution on Hospitalizations for Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Zagreb, Croatia

摘要

Background: There are reported associations of sulphur dioxide (S02) with hospitalization for COPD, but it is uncertain whether S02 is responsible for the observed effects. Aims and objectives: to investigate the possibility of an association between of traffic related pollutants N02, S02 and PM10 and daily hospitalizations for COPD in Zagreb. Methods: Daily COPD hospitalizations were regressed on pollutants and potential confounding variables using an autoregressive Poisson model. Results: The risk of hospitalization of COPD was associated with N02 lagO (RR=1.09; 95%CI: 1.01-1.17). No significant effects were found of PM10 and SO2. There was no interaction between SO2 and PM10 particles. Conclusions: No effects of SO2 neither its interaction with PM10 particles were detected possibly reflecting decline of concentrations of SO2 as a result of control on emissions and change in fuel use.