Acute effects of a winter air pollution episode on pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms of children

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Archives of Environmental Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1993.9936721· OSTI ID:5634514

Hoek, G; Brunekreef, B ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Wageningen (Netherlands)

The acute respiratory effects of a wintertime air pollution episode were studied in a general population sample of 112 children who were 7-12 y of age and who lived in a nonurban community. Spirometry was performed on 6 d, with a fixed interval of 3 wk between successive tests. During an air pollution episode, an additional pulmonary function test was made. Acute respiratory symptoms of the children were noted in a diary. Ambient concentrations of sulfur dioxide, black smoke, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 microns, and nitrogen dioxide were considered as exposure variables. The association of air pollution with pulmonary function and prevalence of acute respiratory symptoms was assessed by individual linear regression analysis and time series analysis, respectively. In February 1991, an air pollution episode occurred during which daily average sulfur dioxide concentrations were slightly above 100 micrograms/m3, and particulate matter (with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 microns) concentrations reached 174 micrograms/m3. During the episode, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and maximal mid-expiratory flow were lower than on baseline tests. Significant negative associations were found between the concentration of sulfur dioxide, black smoke, and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 microns. No association between prevalence of acute respiratory symptoms and the concentration of these compounds was found.

• OSTI ID: 5634514
• Journal Information: Archives of Environmental Health; (United States), Vol. 48:5; ISSN 0003-9896
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHILDREN
RESPIRATION
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SULFUR DIOXIDE
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
SEASONS
TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS
AGE GROUPS
CHALCOGENIDES
MATHEMATICS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
STATISTICS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)