The aim of this study was to investigate whether nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and certain meteorological conditions had an impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related emergency department (ED) visits in the metropolitan area of Zagreb. This retrospective, ecological study included 20,228 patients with a cardiovascular disease as their primary diagnosis who were examined in the EDs of two Croatian University Hospitals, Sisters of Charity and Holy Spirit, in the study period July 2008-June 2010. The median of daily CVD-related ED visits during the study period was 28 and was the highest during winter. A significant negative correlation was found between CVD-related emergency visits and air temperature measured no more than three days prior to the visit, and the highest negative correlation coefficient was measured two days earlier (R=0.266, p≤0.001). The number of CVD-related emergency visits significantly correlated with the average NO2 concentration on the same day (R=0.191, p<0.001). The results of multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the number of CVD-related emergency visits depended on air temperature, and NO2 and O3 concentrations. The higher the air temperatures, the lower the number of daily CVD-related emergency visits (p<0.001). An increase in NO2 concentrations (p=0.005) and a decrease in O3 concentrations of two days earlier (p=0.006) led to an increase in CVD-related ED visits. In conclusion, the decrease in O3 concentrations and the increase in NO2, even if below the legally binding thresholds, could be associated with an increase in CVD-related emergency visits and a similar effect was observed with lower temperature measured no more than three days prior to the visit.

Livestock production is a significant contributor to global methane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and ammonia emissions. Poultry and pig farming in Slovenia needs to undertake a large survey on the emission of aerial pollutants, since monitoring on this field is incomplete. Despite this, measurements of aerial emissions such as ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were monitored from representative poultry laying hen, pig weaning and pig fattening farms in Slovenia. Animal category, different technologies, stocking density and body mass variations significantly influenced the outcome emissions. NH3,N2O and CO2 concentrations in the ambiental air directly correlate (p<0.05) to variable air streams in stables and mostly exceed the known data from other investigations made in EU. From the hen production the calculated predictions of annual ammonia (28.5 kg lu-1 a-1) and nitrous oxide emissions (102 kg lu-1 a-1) were higher (p<0.05) than pig fattening production (NH3 2.5 kg lu-1 a-1 N2O 58.3 kg lu-1 a-1) or pig weaning production (NH3 6.4 kg lu-1 a-1 N2O67 kg lu-1 a-1), still the carbon dioxide emissions were estimated as 21.5-59% higher in pig (fatteners 3960 kg lu-1 a-1) than in poultry production. This paper reports about the large variety and intensity of aerial emissions, as for laying hens and pig production depended on animal species and animal category

We investigated correlation between the normal level of air pollution, weather conditions and stroke occurrence in the region of Southeast Europe with a humid continental climate. This retrospective study included 1963 patients, 1712 (87.2%) with ischemic (IS) and 251 (12.8%) with hemorrhagic stroke (HS) admitted to emergency department. The number of patients, values of weather condition (meteorological parameters) [air temperature (°C), atmospheric pressure (kPa), relative humidity (%)] and concentrations of air pollutants [particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO), ozone (O)], were recorded and evaluated for each season (spring, summer, autumn, winter) during 2 years (July 2008-June 2010). The highest rate of IS was observed during spring (28.9%) (p = 0.0002) and HS in winter (33.9%) (p = 0.0006). We have found negative Spearman's correlations (after Bonferroni adjustment for the multiple correlations) of the number of males with values of relative humidity (%) (day 0, rho = - 0.15), the total number of strokes (day 2, rho = - 0.12), females (day 2, rho = - 0.12) and IS (day 2, rho = - 0.13) with concentrations of PM (µg/m), as well as negative correlations of the number of females (day 2, rho = - 0.12) and IS (day 2, rho = - 0.12) with concentrations of NO (µg/m) (for all p < 0.002). In winter, the number of HS (day 0, rho = 0.25, p = 0.001) positively correlated with concentrations of O (µg/m). The appearance of stroke has seasonal variations, with the highest rates during spring and winter. Positive correlation between the number of HS and values of O requires an additional reduction of the legally permitted pollutants concentrations.

SUMMARY -Th e aim of the study was to investigate the unknown eff ect of air pollutants on the occurrence or deterioration of respiratory diseases in the area with a humid continental climate. Th is retrospective study included 5868 patients with respiratory symptomatology (upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), pneumonia, acute bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma) admitted to emergency department (ED). Th e number of patients, values of meteorological parameters (mean daily values of air temperature pressure and relative humidity) and concentrations of air pollution particles (≤10 μm (PM 10 ), ozone (O 3 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 )) were collected during a two-year ( July 2008 -June 2010) period. Th ere were 1839 (31.3%), 1712 (29.2%), 1313 (22.4%), 614 (10.5%) and 390 (6.6%) patients with pneumonia, COPD, URTI, acute bronchitis and asthma, respectively. Th e mean daily concentrations of NO 2 (25.9 (1.7-89.7) μg/m 3 ) , O 3 (47.1 (4.7-135.4) μg/ m 3 ) and PM 10 particles (25.7 (4.6-146.6) μg/m 3 ) were below the legally defi ned thresholds. Among other results, the occurrence of respiratory diseases showed positive Spearman's correlation with the values of air humidity (days 0-3, r=0.15 to 0.19), PM 10 (days 0-3, r=0.10 to 0.13) and NO 2 concentrations (day 0, r=0.11), and negative correlation with the values of air temperature (days 0-3, r=-0.36 to -0.34), pressure (day 0, r=-0.10) and O 3 concentrations (days 0-3, r=-0.21 to -0.22) (p<0.05 all). In conclusion, the occurrence of respiratory diseases showed correlation with weather conditions and air pollutants despite the legally permitted values in the region with a humid continental climate.

SUMMARY -In this study, we investigated the correlation of air temperature, pressure and concentration of air pollutants with the rate of admissions for cardiac arrhythmias at two clinical centers in the area with a humid continental climate. Th is retrospective study included 3749 patients with arrhythmias admitted to emergency department (ED). Th ey were classifi ed into four groups: supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), ventricular tachycardia (VT), atrial fi brillation/undulation (Afi b/ Aund), and palpitations (with no ECG changes, or with sinus tachycardia and extrasystoles). Th e number of patients, values of meteorological parameters (average daily values of air temperature, pressure and relative humidity) and concentrations of air pollutants (particles of dimensions ~10 micrometers or less (PM 10 ), ozone (O 3 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 )) were collected during a two-year period ( July 2008-June 2010). Th ere were 1650 (44.0%), 1525 (40.7%), 451 (12.0%) and 123 (3.3%) patients with palpitations, Afi b/Aund, SVT and VT, respectively. Spearman's correlation yielded positive correlation between the occurrence of arrhythmias and air humidity on the day (r=0.07), and 1 (r=0.08), 2 (r=0.09) and 3 days before (r=0.09), and NO 2 particles on the day (r=0.08) of ED admission; palpitations and air humidity on the day (r=0.11), and 1 (r=0.09), 2 (r=0.07) and 3 days before (r=0.10), and PM 10 (r=0.11) and NO 2 (r=0.08) particles on the day of ED admission; and Afi b/Aund and air humidity 2 days before (r=0.08) ED admission (p<0.05 all). In conclusion, there was a very weak positive correlation of the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias with air humidity and concentration of air pollutants in the region with a humid continental climate.