Background Air pollution contributes to mortality and morbidity. We estimat
ed the impact of outdoor (total) and traffic-related air pollution on publi
c health in Austria, France, and Switzerland. Attributable cases of morbidi
ty and mortality were estimated.
Methods Epidemiology-based exposure-response functions for a 10 mu g/m(3) i
ncrease in particulate matter (PM10) were used to quantify the effects of a
ir pollution. Cases attributable to air pollution were estimated for mortal
ity (adults greater than or equal to 30 years), respiratory and cardiovascu
lar hospital admissions tall ages), incidence of chronic bronchitis (adults
greater than or equal to 25 years), bronchitis episodes in children (<15 y
ears), restricted activity days (adults greater than or equal to 20 years),
and asthma attacks in adults and children. Population exposure (PM10) was
modelled for each km(2). The traffic-related fraction was estimated based o
n PM10 emission inventories.
Findings Air pollution caused 6% of total mortality or more than 40 000 att
ributable cases per year. About half of all mortality caused by air polluti
on was attributed to motorised traffic, accounting also for: more than 25 0
00 new cases of chronic bronchitis (adults); more than 290 000 episodes of
bronchitis (children); more than 0.5 million asthma attacks; and more than
16 million person-days of restricted activities.
Interpretation This assessment estimates the public-health impacts of curre
nt patterns of air pollution. Although individual health risks of air pollu
tion are relatively small, the public-health consequences are considerable.
Traffic-related air pollution remains a key target for public-health actio
n in Europe. Our results, which have also been used for economic valuation,
should guide decisions on the assessment of environmental health-policy op
tions.