Previous studies detected an influence of urban characteristics on song traits in passerine birds, that is, song adjustments to ambient noise in urban areas. Several studies already described the effect of weather conditions on the behavior of birds, but not the effect on song traits. We investigate, if song trait variability changes along a continuous urbanity gradient in Frankfurt am Main, Ge...

BACKGROUND The air quality index (AQI) is widely used to characterize the quality of ambient air. Chinese cities officially report the AQI on a daily basis. To assess the possible effects of air pollution on daily outpatient visits, we examined the association between AQI and the daily outpatient count. METHODS Daily data on outpatient visits to each clinical department were collected from th...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the potential correlation between ambient air pollution exposure and emergency department (ED) visits for depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS A hierarchical clusters design was used to study 27 047 ED visits for depression in six cities in Canada. The data used in the analysis contain the dates of visits, daily numbers of diagnosed visits, and daily mean concentrations...

BACKGROUND Animal models suggest that the cardiovascular effects of air pollution result in part from inflammation caused by proinflammatory mediators originating in the lung. In a human study of the cardiovascular effects of air pollution, we aimed to evaluate the potential association between air pollution levels and the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)), a non-invasive measure of air...

PURPOSE The assessment of the indoor air and walls contamination of fungi at the Kavala Hospital in Greece was made. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was carried out at the Neonatal Department and Intensive Care Unit and Palliative Care in Kavala Hospital (Greece). Materials for the tests were: the air samples (in front of the building and the selected rooms) and swabs from the walls. The air p...

The association between total daily mortality and air pollution was investigated for a 1-year period (January 1995 to December 1995) in Inchon, Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative importance of particulate and gaseous air pollution as predictors of daily mortality. Concentration of total suspended particulates (TSP), inhalable particles (PM10), and gaseous pollutants, ...

To evaluate the relative importance of various measures of particulate and gaseous air pollution as predictors of daily mortality in Inchon, South Korea, the association between total daily mortality and air pollution was investigated for a 20-month period (January 1995 through August 1996). Poisson regression was used to regress daily death counts on each air pollutant, controlling for time tr...

Weather, climate and tourism are interconnected in many different ways. All of them are of both global and local significance. Weather and/or climate information is of interest for tourists and the tourist industry especially before and during the vacation period. Relevant climate information can be obtained through different media (tourist guide books, Internet, CD, DVD) or through weather ser...

BACKGROUND Little evidence is available about the association between temperature and cerebrovascular mortality in China. This study aims to examine the effects of ambient temperature on cerebrovascular mortality in different climatic zones in China. METHOD We obtained daily data on weather conditions, air pollution and cerebrovascular deaths from five cities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Wuha...

BACKGROUND Indoor air pollution, is the main cause of population exposure to polluting agents. AIM To establish an environmental profile of indoor contamination emission sources in families of children under 5 years that assist to kindergartens in Temuco and Padre Las Casas. To associate respiratory disease episodes in children with indoor contamination. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cross sectional...