El proyecto EMECAS: protocolo del estudio multicéntrico en España de los efectos a corto plazo de la contaminación atmosférica sobre la salud.

The EMECAM Project demonstrated the short-term effect of air pollution on the death rate in 14 cities in Spain throughout the 1990-1995 period. The Spanish Multicentre Study on Health Effects of Air Pollution (EMECAS) is broadening these objectives by incorporating more recent data, information on hospital disease admissions and totaling 16 Spanish cities. This is an ecological time series study in which the response variables are the daily deaths and the emergency hospitalizations due to circulatory system diseases and respiratory diseases among the residents in each city. Pollutants analyses: suspended particles, SO2, NO2, CO and O3. Control variables: meteorological, calendar, seasonality and influenza trend and incidence. Statistical analysis: estimate of the association in each city by means of the construction of generalized additive Poisson regression models and metanalysis for obtaining combined estimators. The EMECAS Project began with the creation of three working groups (Exposure, Epidemiology and Analysis Methodology) which defined the protocol. The average levels of pollutants were below those established under the current regulations for sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone. The NO2 and PM10 values were around those established under the regulations (40 mg/m3). This is the first study of the relationship between air pollution and disease rate among one group of Spanish cities. The pollution levels studied are moderate for some pollutants, although for others, especially NO2 and particles, these levels could entail a problem with regard to complying with the regulations in force.

English Abstract; Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;

El proyecto EMECAS y su predecesor EMECAM han recibido financiación del Ministerio de Sanidad a través de las convocatorias del Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS 97/0051 y FIS 00/0010), así como la ayuda de las instituciones participantes. El grupo de Granada ha recibido ayuda de la Red de Centros de Investigación en Epidemiolog ía y Salud Pública (RCESP). El proyecto EMECAS ha recibido el premio Medio Ambiente y Salud en su primera edición (2004) convocado por la Fundación Fungesma