The European Community Respiratory Health Survey II.

The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) II will determine the incidence of and risk factors for the development of allergic disease, atopy and rapid loss of lung function in middle-aged adults living in Europe. From 1991-1993, >18,000 individuals took part in ECRHS I and provided information on symptoms and exposure to known or suspected risk factors for asthma. Blood samples for assessment of specific immunoglobulin E to environmental allergen were taken and lung function and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine were assessed. From 1999-2001, study participants were re-contacted to determine symptom status and exposure to a variety of factors, including tobacco smoke, animals, occupational agents and air pollutants (including particulate matter). In a subsample of responders, exposure to house dust-mite allergen was assessed by analysis of dust samples taken from participants' mattresses. In addition, blood samples suitable for deoxyribonucleic acid extraction were collected and stored. Currently, European Community Respiratory Health Survey II is being conducted in 29 centres in 14 countries. At the time of writing this paper, 27 centres had begun the study and approximately 12,000 participants had completed a short postal questionnaire, approximately 9,000 had completed a more detailed health assessment and 3,500 participants had provided dust samples. Historical air-pollution data have been collated and the programme of monitoring particles with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microm has been completed in 21 centres in 10 countries.