The Beirut Air Pollution and Health Effects
BAPHE
The Beirut Air Pollution and Health Effects (BAPHE) study aimed to determine the relationship between short-term variations in ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and emergency hospital admissions in the city of Beirut, and whether susceptible groups are more greatly affected. In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, several hospitals in Beirut area, as well as a network of physicians and experts, BAPHE was designed to develop a methodology adapted to the context of the city of Beirut. The project studies the relation between high levels of air pollution and daily emergency hospital admissions for specific causes, as well as estimates the cost of air pollution health effects. Data collection and environmental measurements were conducted over a period of 3 years. The quality of data collected from emergency units was analyzed to properly estimate hospitalizations via these units. BAPHE was towards collecting health data from the emergency registry of each partner hospital. The pilot study determined the appropriate health indicators for BAPHE and created a classification methodology for data collection, management, and analysis.