BACKGROUND: Recent evidence showed that 50% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be attributable to air pollution. We aimed to investigate the association between long-term air pollution exposure and COPD symptoms/diagnosis in an Italian epidemiological study. METHODS: A total of 14 420 adults living in Ancona, Pavia, Pisa, Sassari, Turin and Verona were investigated in 2005-2011. Data on risk factors and health outcomes were collected by questionnaires
mean annual concentrations of particulate matters (PM) like PM RESULTS: A 10 µg/m CONCLUSIONS: Further evidence about the relationship between air pollution and respiratory effects in Italian adults was provided indicating PM as the main driver.