Effect of ambient winter air pollution on respiratory health of children with chronic respiratory symptoms

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · American Review of Respiratory Disease; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/147.1.118· OSTI ID:7019237

Roemer, W; Hoek, G; Brunekreef, B ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Wageningen (Netherlands)

The acute respiratory effects of ambient air pollution were studied in a panel of 73 children with chronic respiratory symptoms in the winter of 1990 to 1991. The participating children were selected from all children aged 6 to 12 yr in Wageningen and Bennekom, two small, nonindustrial towns in the east of the Netherlands. Peak flow was measured twice daily with MiniWright meters. A diary was used to register the occurrence of acute respiratory symptoms and medication use by the children. Exposure to air pollution was characterized by the ambient concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), black smoke (BS), and particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10). Associations between air pollution concentrations and health outcomes were analyzed using time series analysis. During the study period an air pollution episode occurred, with moderately elevated concentrations of PM10 and SO2. There were 6 days with 24-h average PM10 concentrations in excess of the WHO suggested lowest observed effect level of 110 micrograms/m3. After adjustment for ambient temperature, there were small but statistically significant negative associations of PM10, BS, and SO2 with both morning and evening PEF. There was a consistent positive association between PM10, BS, and SO2 with the prevalence of wheeze and bronchodilator use. Overall, the observed associations suggest a mild to moderate response to these moderately elevated levels of air pollution in a group of potentially sensitive children.

• OSTI ID: 7019237
• Journal Information: American Review of Respiratory Disease; (United States), Vol. 147:1; ISSN 0003-0805
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
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AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHILDREN
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
RESPIRATION
FLOW RATE
NETHERLANDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
PARTICLE SIZE
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SEASONS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
AGE GROUPS
CHALCOGENIDES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISEASES
EUROPE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SIZE
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
551000 - Physiological Systems
552000 - Public Health