Effects of air pollution on the respiratory health of children: a cross-sectional study
To investigate the effects of air pollution on the respiratory health of children, a subject of some controversy, a comparative study was undertaken of 2,385 school children who lived in central urban, peripheral urban, and suburban areas. Daily monitoring of sulfur dioxide and total suspended particle concentrations in all areas showed that pollutant concentrations in central and peripheral urban areas were above commonly accepted safety levels for respiratory health, while concentrations in the suburban area were within acceptable limits. A questionnaire administered to each mother assessed environmental exposure to pollutants in the household, the occurrence of respiratory symptoms as well as lung diseases as diagnosed by a physician, and general information. Children were interviewed about smoking habits and any acute respiratory symptoms. Children also performed standard lung function tests. Results showed that children from both urban areas had lessened pulmonary function and a higher prevalence of bronchial secretion with common colds than did those from the suburban area. These differences persisted after corrections for exposure to indoor pollutants, active or passive smoking, socioeconomic status, and sex. Parental cigarette smoking was related to a fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and an increased incidence of acute respiratory illnesses and chronic cough in children. Although boys had higher lung volumes and lower air flow, regression analysis showed no significant influence of the interactions sex-geographic area and sex-smoking on lung function. It was concluded that air pollution has a significant effect on the respiratory health of children.
- OSTI ID:
- 5574802
- Journal Information:
- Pediatr. Pulmonol.; (United States), Vol. 5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
LUNGS
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
PARTICULATES
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
HEALTH HAZARDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
AIR POLLUTION
CHILDREN
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DAILY VARIATIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ITALY
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
RESPIRATION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SEX DEPENDENCE
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SYMPTOMS
TOBACCO SMOKES
URBAN AREAS
AEROSOLS
AGE GROUPS
BODY
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
EUROPE
HAZARDS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
POLLUTION
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SAFETY STANDARDS
SMOKES
SOLS
STANDARDS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
VARIATIONS
WESTERN EUROPE
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)