Air Pollution and Respiratory Symptoms in Preschool Children

Abstract

A diary study on a random sample of 625 Swiss children aged 0 to 5 yr was conducted in two cities in Switzerland to investigate the association between air pollution and respiratory symptoms. Total suspended particulates (TSP), SO2 and NO2 were measured by city monitor. In addition, passive samplers inside and outside the home measured NO2 concentration during the 6 wk each child was on the diary. Diaries were filled out by parents, and 20% were validated with the attending pediatrician's case notes. Incidence and duration of symptom episodes were examined separately. The study included any episode, episodes of coughing without runny nose, upper respiratory episodes, and episodes of breathing difficulty. In regressions using 6-wk average pollution that controlled for medical history, NO2 measured outdoors but not indoors was associated with the duration of any symptom. Total suspended particulates were a more significant predictor of duration of any symptom than NO2. The 6-wk average TSP was significantly associated with incidence of coughing episodes and marginally significant as a predictor of upper respiratory episodes. Previous day's TSP was a significant predictor of incidence of upper respiratory symptoms. Annual average of NO2 was associated with the duration of any episode and of upper respiratory episodes. We conclude that the incidence and duration of respiratory symptom episodes are likely associated with particulate concentrations and duration may be associated with NO2.

Expressing urine from a gel disposable diaper for biomonitoring using phthalates as an example

“…This relationship was stronger among those children with a family history of asthma. An estimated relative risk for reported cough of 1.16 for every 20 μg/m 3 rise in PM 10 was reported in Swiss preschool children (Braun-Fahrlander et al, 1992). Similar results were seen in a review of three cross-sectional surveys of children in the former German Democratic Republic between 1990 and 1998, with odds ratios for cough and bronchitis of 1.20 per 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 10 (Heinrich, 2003).…”

Inner city air pollution and respiratory health and atopy in children

“…In this nonatopic subgroup, asthma may mainly be triggered or induced by viral infections. Some evidence suggests that the development of childhood respiratory tract infections is in fact related to increasing exposure to SO 2 , NO 2 and particles [3,4,15]. Alternatively, irritative symptoms due to higher pollution exposure may result in more frequent visits to a physician who may then be more likely to misclassify a bronchitic child as asthmatic.…”

“…24 h -1 ). The yearly mean concentrations of SO 2 3 . The values estimated by discontinuous measurements might be slightly higher because no gridpoint measurements were performed between 23:00h and 06:00h at night.…”

“…Eur Respir J 1999; 14: 669±677. [3,4,6] and the occurrence of respiratory tract illnesses. Not all reports attempted to discriminate between the different phenotypes of these conditions.…”

“…Several authors reported a significant association between increased exposure to particulate matter [1±4], SO 2 [1,3,4], O 3 [5] and nitrogen oxides [3,4,6] and the occurrence of respiratory tract illnesses. Not all reports attempted to discriminate between the different phenotypes of these conditions.…”