Air pollution and school absenteeism among children in Mexico City

Journal Article · Tue Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 1992 · American Journal of Epidemiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:7062517

Romieu, I; Lugo, M C; Velasco, S R; Sanchez, S; Meneses, F; Hernandez, M ^[1]

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1. Pan American Health Organization, Mexico City (Mexico)

To determine the acute effects of ozone exposure, the authors conducted a short follow-up study of respiratory illness in a population of 111 preschool children frequently exposed to ozone levels that regularly exceed 0.120 parts per million (ppm). The children attended a private kindergarten in the southwestern part of Mexico City. Parents completed a questionnaire on demographic data, medical history, and potential sources of indoor air pollution. To determine the relation of ozone and respiratory-related school absenteeism, the authors used a logistic regression model for longitudinal data. During the 3-month follow-up, 50% of the children had at least one respiratory-related absenteeism period, and 11.7% had two or more. Children exposed for 2 consecutive days to high ozone levels (> or = 0.13 ppm) had a 20% increment in the risk of respiratory illness. For children exposed for 2 consecutive days to a high ozone level and the previous day to low temperature (< or = 5.1 degrees C), the risk reached 40% (odds ratio = 1.44, 95% confidence interval 1.37-1.52). This study suggests that ozone exposure might be positively associated with the risk of respiratory illness in children and that it may have an interactive effect with low temperature exposure.

• OSTI ID: 7062517
• Journal Information: American Journal of Epidemiology; (United States), Journal Name: American Journal of Epidemiology; (United States) Vol. 136:12; ISSN 0002-9262; ISSN AJEPAS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550900* -- Pathology
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE GROUPS
AIR POLLUTION
CHILDREN
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISEASES
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
LATIN AMERICA
MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
OZONE
POLLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES