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PubMed2004

Particulate matter and black smoke concentration levels in central Athens, Greece.

This study presents the statistical analysis of PM(10) and PM(2.5) concentrations (measured at a central site, in the Athens area), along with black smoke (BS) data, for a 2-year period. The biennial average concentrations of PM(10) and PM(2.5) were 75 and 40 microg m(-3). The respective average concentration of BS, as estimated by the OECD method, was 108 microg m(-3). Severe exceedances of the PM(10) air quality standards were recorded. The seasonal variation of PM(10) and BS was less pronounced than the variation of PM(2.5), which concentration was elevated by 14.2% during the cold period. Concentrations of all three pollutants were significantly lower during weekends; however, PM(2.5) and BS displayed a more uniform weekly distribution pattern. PM(10) particles were found to be almost equally comprised by PM(2.5) and PM(10-2.5) particles (PM(2.5)/PM(10) ratio=0.53+/-0.09 microg/m(3)). The average PM(10)/BS value was found lower than unity revealing the inappropriateness of the used reflectance conversion method, for the estimation of mass-equivalent BS concentrations, in the study area, where diesel-powered vehicles mainly control emissions of light-absorbing substances. Important reductions in concentrations were observed during days when drivers of diesel-powered taxies and transportation buses went on strike (reaching 40% for BS). Calm wind conditions were found to have an incremental effect on particle concentrations and were also associated with the appearance of persistent episodic events. Increased PM levels were also observed during southern-southwestern wind flows while significantly lower-than-average concentrations were measured during precipitation events. Separate regression analyses were performed for PM(10), PM(2.5) with BS and NO(x) as independent variables, in an attempt to estimate the relative contribution of specific source types (diesel-powered vehicles) to measured particle levels. The contribution of the diesel-exhaust component to PM(10) mass was estimated at 49.9%, while the corresponding contributions to PM(2.5) mass concentrations was 53.8%. These results may have important implications with the oncoming decision of national authorities to allow the purchase of diesel-powered private cars to the residents of the Greater Athens Area, which was forbidden up to this day.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2004

Effects of nitrogen deposition on nitrogen cycling in an Aleppo pine stand in Athens, Greece.

High levels of nitrogen deposition measured in throughfall fluxes in 2002, reaching 38 kg ha(-1) year(-1), affected the biogeochemical cycle of N in an Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) stand situated in Athens, the capital of Greece. The N fluxes in bulk deposition were far lower than those in throughfall indicating high levels of dry deposition in the city of Athens. The amounts of N in litterfall and those stored in the forest floor and mineral soil were not high, while the mean residence time of N in the forest floor, derived from fluxes equations, decreased considerably due to the high levels of N fluxes in throughfall deposition. Nitrogen concentration in needle tissues was high and this resulted in a high ratio of N/Zn. Zinc availability was low due to the alkaline nature of soil in the study area. Fast N cycling may affect the living status of Aleppo pine, which is an oligotrophic plant species capable of occupying poor soil sites. Nitrogen eutrophication may adversely affect forests grown on calcareous soils by developing nutrition imbalances between N and micronutrients, the solubility of which depends on soil pH values.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed2005

Temporal variations of PM2.5 in the ambient air of a suburban site in Athens, Greece.

Twenty-three hour measurements of PM(2.5) particulate matter have been carried out during the period between the 1st April and the 13th November 2003 in a suburban area of Athens. The monitoring site was located in the National Research Center "DEMOKRITOS", on the foot of Hemittos Mountain and about 12 km away from the center of Athens. The site covers an area of 600 acres in a forest of pine trees close enough to the newly constructed Hemittos Mountain peripheral highway. PM(2.5) samples were collected on 47 mm filters, with the use of low volume gravimetric samplers while a meteorological station recorded meteorological data 6 m above the ground, nearby the sampling instrumentation. The daily average PM(2.5) concentration reached 21.1 microg m(-3) and all measurements were below U.S. Environmental Pollution Agency daily limit (65 microg m(-3)). A regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship among PM(2.5) concentrations and meteorological parameters. Additionally, PM(2.5) mass concentrations were correlated with other inorganic gaseous pollutants (O(3), NO, NO(2), SO(2)) while weekly and seasonal PM(2.5) variations were also investigated.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2003

Carbonyl compounds in the urban environment of Athens, Greece.

The concentration levels of 15 selected carbonyl compounds in 62 samples were determined at two sites in Athens basin from June to December 2000. Formaldehyde was the most abundant species (0.05-39 microg m(-3)), which comprised from 22% to 37% of the total measured compounds, followed by acetaldehyde (4.32-49 microg m(-3)), acetone/acrolein (0.64-198 microg m(-3)) and butanal (0.79-140 microg m(-3)). The mean formaldehyde/acetaldehyde and acetaldehyde/propanal molar ratios were calculated. No significant seasonal differences were observed for all the carbonyls. Photochemical production was found to weigh upon atmospheric levels for 83-93% in summer days, dropping below 33% in the winter. The importance of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde as a source of hydroxyl radicals in Athens was also assessed.

Acetone↗
PubMed2003

Indoor and outdoor carbon monoxide concentration relationships at different microenvironments in the Athens area.

Simultaneous measurements of indoor and outdoor carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations conducted at two different microenvironments in Athens, Greece, using a non-dispersive infrared analyzer, are described in this paper. The two selected microenvironments, an office and a public school, were located in the vicinity of two streets with heavy traffic, near the center of Athens. A statistical correlation analysis of indoor concentration levels with outdoor concentrations monitored at the school and at the office, as well as with meteorological parameters and outdoor concentrations monitored at a fixed monitoring site, was conducted. Hourly indoor concentrations at the office and at the school showed a significant positive correlation with outdoor concentrations measured at both measurement locations (with correlation coefficient values R=0.74 and R=0.83 respectively) and at the fixed site (with R=0.70 and R=0.67 respectively). The correlation between indoor and outdoor concentrations was even better when hourly concentrations averaged over a 4 h period were considered (correlation coefficient values between indoor and outdoor concentrations measured at the office and at the school were R=0.85 and R=0.92 respectively and the correlation coefficient value between indoor and outdoor fixed site concentrations was R=0.75 for both sites). Mean hourly outdoor concentrations at the fixed monitoring site explained approximately 56% (R=0.75) of the variation of outdoor concentrations at the office and approximately 68 % (R=0.83) of the variation of outdoor concentrations at the school. The mean daily indoor to outdoor (I/O) ratio ranged between 0.74 and 1.00 at the office and between 0.53 and 0.89 at the school.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2003

Characterization of lead, cadmium, arsenic and nickel in PM(2.5) particles in the Athens atmosphere, Greece.

Concentrations of Pb, Cd, As and Ni in PM(2.5) particles were measured in samples collected, using low volume PM(2.5) samplers (Harvard Impactor system, HI) at two sites in Athens basin; Patission Street in Athens city center and Rentis, a semi-urban and industrial area, during March 1995-March 1996. Sample analysis for Pb, Cd, Ni and As was accomplished by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after total digestion. Annual geometric mean values in 183 PM(2.5) particles samples were found to be: Pb: 143 nanogram(-3); Cd: 0.34 nanogram(-3); Ni: 4.55 nanogram(-3); As: 0.79 nanogram(-3). The geographical and temporal distribution patterns were investigated. Pb exhibited higher values during the winter period. For the other elements no significant seasonal variation was observed. Wind direction, air temperature and relative humidity affected element concentrations. Principal component analysis was applied on the data to enable source apportionment of toxic elements in PM(2.5) particles. It was found that Pb, As and Ni have common sources, which could be vehicles emissions/oil combustion and resuspended road dust. Cd and a portion of As originate from industrial activities.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1999

Asymptomatic canine leishmaniasis in Greater Athens area, Greece.

Leishmania (L.) infantum is the etiological agent of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean subregion. Domestic dogs are the main reservoir of the parasite in most urban areas. A survey of 1638 asymptomatic dogs registered in Greater Athens area was carried out in the Hellenic Pasteur Institute during the period 1986-1994 to investigate the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis in apparently healthy dogs. Dog sera was tested using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT). Of the 1638 dogs, 366 (22.4%) had anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies at titre greater than or equal to 1/200 which were considered positive; 53 (3.2%) had antibody titres of 1/100 and were considered uncertain; and 1219 (74.4%) dogs were seronegative. From the 366 seropositive dogs, 212 were positive at 1/1600 serum dilution, 57 at 1/800, 38 at 1/400 and 59 at 1/200. The results were plotted according the site of residence, breed and age. The rate of asymptomatic infections with L. infantum dogs in Greater Athens area appears to be significantly high. Although there is an apparent lack of clinical symptoms in these dogs, asymptomatic animals harbor a chronic L. infantum infection and as such consist a 'dangerous' reservoir with regard to the spread of the disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The impact of a Community Mental Health Center on psychiatric hospitalizations in two Athens areas.

This paper explores the impact of a Community Mental Health Center intervention activities on the inpatient psychiatric morbidity of two areas served by this center. Athens University established this Center, the first of its kind in the Greater Athens area. A comparison among the utilization rates of inpatient psychiatric services by community residents during the years 1979, 1985, 1991 and 1995 is made. The results of the 1995 survey show a significant reduction in the number and days of hospitalization and a remarkable cut in compulsory admissions when compared with those in 1979. It is concluded that medication monitoring, outreach, domiciliary care for patients in crisis, and day care are effective and robust principles of mental health services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Air pollution in Athens basin and health risk assessment.

An inventory of air pollution sources within the Athens basin is carried out for the years 1989, 1992 and 1998 and the results are inputted in a climatological model for predicting ambient concentrations. Despite of the significant growth in the number of road vehicles and the deteriorating traffic, the emissions and ambient concentrations of fine particulates, CO, NOx and VOC appear to remain reasonably constant over for the period 1989 to 1998, while these of SO2 and Pb are reduced, mainly due to the renewal of vehicle fleet, the use of catalytic technologies and the improved quality of the used fuel. The results further indicate that for CO, NOx and VOC the major source is road traffic, while for PM2.5 and SO2 both space heating and traffic share responsibility. The air pollutant concentrations monitored by the network of 11 stations are reviewed and statistics related to air quality guidelines are presented. As fine particulate levels are not monitored, approximate PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations are derived from black smoke ones on basis of experimentally determined conversion factors. The computed and monitored air pollution levels are compared and found in reasonable agreement. The results of the above analysis show that the levels of all 'classical' pollutants, with the exception of SO2 and Pb, exceed significantly the WHO guidelines and are thus expected to exert a significant health impact. The latter could be quantified in relation to the PM2.5 or PM10 levels on the basis of risk assessment information developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The results show that the existing levels of fine particle concentrations in Athens increase significantly the mortality and morbidity, and reduce the average longevity of the entire population from 1.3 to 1.7 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Air pollution in relation to manifestations of chronic pulmonary disease: a nested case-control study in Athens, Greece.

Chronic pulmonary diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The present study is a case-control study nested in a defined cohort, undertaken in Athens, Greece, in order to investigate the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and the development of chronic bronchitis, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Individualized personal exposure assessment has been applied based on long-term residential and occupational subject history linked with geographical air pollution distribution. The first consecutive 3904 participants from the European Prospective Study into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), all residents of Athens, were asked to complete a questionnaire. One hundred and sixty-eight participants reporting a history of COPD symptomatology and 168 healthy controls recruited from the same study base individually matched for age and gender, were visited by a physician at their homes for conducting spirometry and a medical interview. Eighty-four of the 168 self-identified as cases were diagnosed as having chronic bronchitis, emphysema or COPD. Logistic regression models were used for statistical evaluation. Cases were more exposed to air pollution compared to controls. The estimated odds ratio (OR) indicates an increase of 37% in the risk of medically confirmed cases per exposure quartile (p = 0.02). When most of the subjects exposed are considered vs. all others, there is a twofold increase in disease risk (p = 0.03). Our findings provide evidence that long-term exposure to air pollution is an important factor in the development of chronic respiratory diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Sandflies in the Greater Athens region, Greece.

During the period from May to October 1992, a survey of phlebotomine sandflies was conducted in the Greater Athens region where cases of human and canine leishmaniasis occur. Using castor-oil paper traps, a total of 3015 sandflies were caught. Of the identified specimens, 1002 (34.1%) were Phlebotomus neglectus, 541 (18.4%) were P. papatasi, 182 (6.2%) were P. tobbi, 50 (1.7%) were P. simici, 30 (1.0%) were P. alexandri, 3(0.4%) were P. sergenti and 1122 (38.2%) were Sergentomyia minuta. The seasonal activity of most Phlebotomus species was bimodal, while that of S. minuta was unimodal. The population density of sandflies varied significantly in different localities; it was low in most of the stations and high in some stations in the outskirts. Among the potential vectors of Leishmania spp., P. neglectus and P. Papatasi were the most widespread species. The former species showed high density in 12 of the 70 sampled stations, while the latter in only 4. Hence, the risk of transmission of sandfly-borne diseases is still present in the Greater Athens region.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Blood lead levels of traffic- and gasoline-exposed professionals in the city of Athens.

During the past 10 y, blood lead levels in the population of Athens, Greece, have decreased steadily. This decrease has paralleled the reduction of tetraethyl lead in gasoline and the introduction of unleaded fuel. Blood lead levels and other parameters were studied in 42 gas-station employees, 47 taxi drivers, 47 bus drivers, and 36 controls, all of whom worked in Athens. The blood lead levels did not differ significantly among the four groups (5.64+/-1.7 microg/dl, 5.96+/-1.7 microg/dl, 5.88+/-1.3 microg/dl, and 5.76+/-1.7 microg/dl, respectively). Glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (i.e., aspartate aminotransferase) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (i.e., alanine aminotransferase) were elevated in gas-station employees, and the former was elevated in taxi drivers. Gas-station employees who smoked had higher blood lead levels than their nonsmoking counterparts. The absence of any difference in the blood lead levels of individuals for whom physical examinations were either normal or abnormal suggests that either lead was not the cause of increased blood lead levels or that its contribution may have been important in the past.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Chemical characterization of PM2.5 aerosols in Athens-Greece.

Atmospheric aerosols, PM2.5 were simultaneously collected in the center of Athens and in a semi-urban area of the Athens basin, using the Harvard Impactor (HD) system, from March 1995 to March 1996. 224 24-hr samples were collected. Chemical analysis of the filter samples was performed using ion chromatography (Cl-, SO4(2-); NO3-, Na+, K+, NH4+, Mg2+, Ca2+). In addition aerosol addity was measured using a semi-micro electrode. No significant differences in chemical composition of particles were observed between the two sampling sites. At the city center the annual-average of non-sea-salt sulfate concentration was 85 nmoles m(-3). Also the annual mean values of chloride, ammonium and sodium concentrations were 48, 88 and 71 nmoles m(-3) respectively. Lower concentrations were observed for the rest of the ions. Aerosol acidity was higher at the city center, 18 nmoles m(-3), compared to that observed at the semi-urban site, 14 nmoles m(-3). Species concentrations were examined by season. The mean monthly concentrations of Cr, NO3-, Ca2+ and H+ were higher in the winter. In contrast those of Mg2+ Na+ and K+, were higher in the summer and the spring, respectively. The concentrations of SO4(-2)and NH4+ ions did not exhibit a seasonal pattern. Sulfate and ammonium ions were the predominant ionic species and their ionic ratio ranged between those of ammonium sulfate and letovicite.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2004

Assessment of the air-quality over urban areas by means of biometeorological indices. The case of Athens, Greece.

This article deals with the part of air pollution, which has a particular relevance to the objective assessment of the quality of urban air. The correct understanding of the pollution levels over an urban region is of great importance to both authorized government services and to the community. This is particularly true for high polluted urban regions such as the Athens basin; so, it is important to recognize the levels of atmospheric quality by means of an easily understandable manner even for non-specialists. Thus, in this study an attempt is made for the application of two different groups of air quality indices (AQI) (statistical and biometeorological) by utilizing air pollutants measured into Athens basin, in a network of 17 measuring stations, during the period 2001-2002. The calculations of the (AQI) are referred to data of all 17 measuring stations and concern levels of air-pollution concentrations to both short (daily) and long time periods. Then comparisons were made between the obtained statistical and biometeorological indices in order to identify whether or not there is any existence of consistency between them. The compositions of the calculated indices were also determined, as well as, the most important air-pollutant for them. This procedure was applied for each day of the week in order to reveal the weekly cycle of indices and perhaps to isolate air-quality differences between weekdays and weekends. Finally, the varying forms of both frequency distributions are mainly caused by the impact related concentrations ranges of single air-pollutants which are typical of air-quality indices. Especially, PM10 and O3 seem to have a stronger influence on the determination of values of air quality indices.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1996

The invisible community: undocumented Polish workers in Athens.

"This article describes the development of an economic migration from Poland to Greece and the creation of a migrant community in Athens. It presents the development of a new migration route by political immigrants. It then describes how the Polish political emigrants heading for Greece in the mid-1980s established the pillar institutions which were inherited by the Polish undocumented workers who have followed, and which have served the latter well. The article proceeds to highlight the work milieu of the Polish undocumented workers in Athens, and discusses the role played by the ¿Polish church', i.e., the Roman Catholic church to which Poles were given access. It concludes by considering the future prospects of this migration and of the Polish migrant community in Greece."

Acculturation↗
PubMed2006

Patterns of injuries and motor-vehicle traffic accidents in Athens.

The extremely high cost of motor-vehicle accidents in public health leads to the necessity of a better injury data collection in the Accident and Emergency Hospital Departments. The 'Asclepeion' of Voula Hospital covers the southeastern suburban areas of the greater Athens area (1,000,000 population). The aim of this study is to present information on the pattern of injuries in Athens, in order to understand the magnitude of the problem and develop rational prevention programmes. Specially trained health visitors of the Emergency Department Injury Surveillance System (EDISS) interviewed in person every injured victim who was brought into the Emergency Service of the 'Asclepeion' of Voula Hospital. The study was performed during a 3-year period, from 1996 to 1998; 4564 persons were interviewed. Traffic accidents were more frequent on weekdays with a seasonal peak in July and among young Greeks (aged 25 - 34 years). The usual type of injuries seen in vehicle-accident victims were cerebral contusion and concussion, while in motorcycle-accident victims, head contusion and fractures. The most common reasons for the accident were excessive speed, poor condition of road, inattention, abstraction or drowsiness and drug effects. A total of 29.8% of motorcycle drivers and 5.7% of motorcycle passengers wore a helmet and 26.3% of car drivers and 14.1% of car passengers were using seatbelts. The identification of road traffic injury patterns can contribute to the development of injury prevention measures and guide rational preventive interventions that can reduce the incidence of these injuries. The EDISS system established at 'Asclepeion' of Voula Emergency Service can provide useful and accurate information about this serious and multidimensional problem of Greek Public Health.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2002

Genetic relatedness of resistant and multiresistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains, recovered in the Athens area, to international clones.

The prevalence of resistance to antibiotics was examined among 318 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated during 1998 and 1999 in a children's hospital in Athens. The rate of resistance to penicillin was 25.8% (intermediate 22%, resistant 3.8%); 42.5% of the strains were resistant to > or = 1 antibiotic and 20% were multidrug resistant. Resistance to penicillin was lowest in invasive strains (8.3%) and highest in ear isolates (31%). A review of the same microbiology laboratory's records revealed that there has been a gradual increase in penicillin resistance since 1988-1989, when it was 5%. Capsular types were determined for 77 strains resistant to > or = 1 antibiotic, and 69 (90%) of them belonged to the following five serotypes: 19F, 14, 9V, 23F, and 6B. Seventy-five strains were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and 59/75 (79%) shared five electrophoretic types. The largest cluster consisted of 19 serotype 19F strains, of which 18 were nonsusceptible to penicillin and most were multidrug resistant and shared a common and distinct electrophoretic pattern not resembling any known clone. A group of 17 strains that were nonsusceptible to penicillin belonged to serotypes 9V (10), 14 (6), and 19F (1) and shared a common PFGE type similar to the international clone Spain9V-3. Seven serotype 23F strains, of which five were multidrug resistant, belonged to the international clone Spain23F-1. Among the strains susceptible to penicillin but resistant to non-beta-lactam antibiotics, the largest cluster consisted of 13 isolates resistant to erythromycin that belonged to serotype 14 and shared an electrophoretic pattern characteristic of the clone England14-9. Finally, three serotype 6B strains were penicillin susceptible and multidrug resistant and had features similar to the Mediterranean 6B clone. The introduction and spread of several antibiotic-resistant international clones accounts at least in part for the increase in pneumococcal resistance observed in recent years in the Athens metropolitan area.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1978

Prevalence at birth of congenital malformations in Athens, Greece, 1955--1965.

The prevalence at birth of congenital malformations in Athens was studied in a sample of 74,390 live and stillborn infants, born to women attending a large University Maternity Hospital during 1955--1965. A total of 1534 malformed infants was identified (20.62 per 1000 newborn). The prevalence of anencephalus and spina bifida is lower in Athens than in the United Kingdom, whereas the frequency of other malformations in rather similar in the two countries.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗