Effects of ambient air pollution on upper and lower respiratory symptoms and peak expiratory flow in children.
Background Previous epidemiological studies have shown acute effects of increased amounts of ambient air pollution on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in children with respiratory disorders.
We investigated whether children with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and relatively high serum concentrations of total IgE (>60 kU/L, the median value) are susceptible to air pollution.
Methods We collected data from children during three winters (1992-95) in rural and urban areas of the Netherlands.
Lower respiratory symptoms (wheeze, attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath), upper respiratory symptoms (sore throat, runny or blocked nose), and peak expiratory flow were recorded daily for 3 months.
The acute effects of airborne particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 mum, black smoke, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide were estimated by logistic regression.
Findings 459 (73%) of 632 children had complete data.
Of these, 26% had BHR and relatively high (above median) serum total IgE, 36% had no BHR and total IgE of 60 kU/L or less, 15% had BHR and total IgE of 60 kU/L or less, and 23% had a total IgE of more than 60 kU/L but no BHR.
In children with BHR and relatively high serum total IgE the prevalence of lower respiratory symptoms increased significantly by between 32% and 139% for each 100 mum/m3 increase in particulate matter, and between 16% and 131% for each 40 mum/m3 increase in black smoke, SO2, or NO2. (...)
Mots-clés Pascal : Pollution air, Atmosphère ambiante, Débit expiratoire, Voie respiratoire, Symptomatologie, Enfant, Homme, Appareil respiratoire pathologie
Mots-clés Pascal anglais : Air pollution, Ambient atmosphere, Expiratory flow rate, Respiratory tract, Symptomatology, Child, Human, Respiratory disease
Notice produite par :
Inist-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique
Cote : 99-0180851
Code Inist : 002B03M02. Création : 16/11/1999.