Validity of a traffic air pollutant dispersion model to assess exposure to fine particles.

Introduction: Fine particles (PM(2.5)) are an important component of air pollution. Epidemiological studies have shown health effects due to ambient air particles, particularly allergies in children.

Retrospective assessment of exposure to traffic air pollution using the ExTra index in the VESTA French epidemiological study.

This study applies a traffic exhaust air dispersion model (the ExTra index) to 403 children enrolled in a French multicentric case-control study, the VESTA study (Five [V] Epidemiological Studies on Transport and Asthma). The ExTra index (previously validated by our team) was used to assess lifelong average traffic-related air pollutant (TAP) concentrations (nitrogen oxides) children in the study were exposed to in front of their living places. ExTra index took into account traffic density, topographical parameters (building height, road and pavement width), weather conditions (wind direction and strength) and background pollution levels.

[Assessment of exposure to traffic pollution in epidemiological studies: a review].

Background: Automobile exhaust is a major source of air pollution in urban areas. To study health effects of traffic exhaust fumes epidemiologists need specific tools in order to achieve a precise assessment of human exposure to traffic air pollution (TAP) and avoid misclassification. The aim of this review is to study the different ways of assessing human exposure to TAP in epidemiological studies dealing with short-term or long-term health effects of TAP.

Traffic related air pollution and incidence of childhood asthma: results of the Vesta case-control study.

Study Objective: The Vesta project aims to assess the role of traffic related air pollution in the occurrence of childhood asthma.

Design And Setting: Case-control study conducted in five French metropolitan areas between 1998 and 2000. A set of 217 pairs of matched 4 to 14 years old cases and controls were investigated.

Assessment of exposure to traffic pollution using the ExTra index: study of validation.

The ExTra index, produced by the French Scientific Center for Building Physics, evaluates ambient concentrations of transport-related pollutants in front of the work and living places of urban dwellers. This study contributes to the validation of the ExTra index by carrying out measurements in four French cities. It compares nitrogen oxide concentrations (NOx) measured over 6 weeks with passive samplers, and NOx calculated concentrations using the ExTra index.