Inquinamento da traffico autoveicolare e salute respiratoria della popolazione: uso di tecnologia GIS per l'analisi di un campione generale di popolazione residente nella zona di Pisa-Cascina

The present study deals with the application of GIS technology to examine the effect of living near major roads on human respiratory health status. Distance from main roads is used as a proxy of exposure to air pollution. Through GIS, subjects living within 800 m of the major road were georeferenced using home address method. Subjects were classified according to the distance of each home from the street. Different spatial classifications are attempted using buffers techniques. Results indicate statistically significant associations between some symptoms/diseases (bronchial asthma, dyspnea, attacks of shortness of breath, chronic bronchitis, emphysema) and living in the proximity of the road. Subjects living within 75m of the road report the highest risk level.