Longitudinal study of children exposed to sulfur oxides

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/121.5.720· OSTI ID:5175429

Dodge, R; Solomon, P; Moyers, J; Hayes, C

This study is a longitudinal comparison of the health of children exposed to markedly different concentrations of sulfur dioxide and moderately different concentrations of particulate sulfate. The four groups of subjects lived in two areas of one smelter town and in two other towns, one of which was also a smelter town. In the area of highest pollution, children were intermittently exposed to high SO/sub 2/ levels (peak three-hour average concentration exceeded 2,500 micrograms/m3) and moderate particulate SO/sub 4/= levels (average concentration was 10.1 micrograms/m3). When the children were grouped by the four gradients of pollution observed, the prevalence of cough (measured by questionnaire) correlated significantly with pollution levels (trend chi-square = 5.6, p = 0.02). No significant differences in the incidence of cough or other symptoms occurred among the groups of subjects over three years, and pulmonary function and lung function growth over the study were roughly equal among all the groups. These results suggest that intermittent elevations in SO/sub 2/ concentration, in the presence of moderate particulate SO/sub 4/= concentration, produced evidence of bronchial irritation in the subjects, but no chronic effect on lung function or lung function growth was detected.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tuscon
• OSTI ID: 5175429
• Journal Information: Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States) Vol. 5; ISSN AJEPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE GROUPS
AIR POLLUTION
ARIZONA
ASTHMA
BODY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHILDREN
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISEASES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FEDERAL REGION IX
HISPANIC AMERICANS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LATIN AMERICA
LUNGS
MEXICO
MINORITY GROUPS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SYMPTOMS
TOXICITY
USA