[POLAIR: software and methodological guide for the epidemiological investigation of a point source atmospheric...

The POLAIR software is designed to guide the user along a methodological approach to assess the health consequences of an accidental or chronic point source atmospheric pollution. This article presents the two components of the software, i.e. the gaussian modelization of the pollution contour lines on the territory around the emission source that allows to calculate an exposure index for every individual with a space-time ponderation factor, and the implementation, by using the EPI-INFO software, of a case-control or historical cohort epidemiological study among the population living in the vicinity of the source. Standardized questionnaires for the collection of data in the field are proposed, and the steps of the data analysis are commented upon, on the basis of an illustrative example.