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Inner city air pollution and respiratory health and atopy in children
T Hirsch1, S K Weiland, E von Mutius
1University Children's Hospital Dresden, Germany.
Insights
Inner city air pollution, including benzene and nitrogen dioxide, is linked to increased childhood cough and bronchitis. However, this study found no positive association with atopic sensitization or asthma development in children.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The effects of urban air pollution on children's respiratory and atopic diseases remain unclear.
- Inner city environments often have higher concentrations of traffic-related pollutants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between exposure to specific air pollutants and the prevalence of respiratory and atopic diseases in children.
- To assess the impact of traffic-related air pollution on childhood respiratory health.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study of 5,421 children aged 5-11 years in Dresden, Germany, using the ISAAC protocol.
- Assessed respiratory symptoms, doctor-diagnosed asthma/bronchitis, atopic sensitization, and airway hyperresponsiveness.
- Individual exposure to air pollutants (SO2, NO2, CO, benzene, O3) was estimated based on home and school addresses.
Main Results:
- Increased exposure to benzene was associated with a higher prevalence of morning cough and bronchitis.
- Similar associations were found for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO).
- No positive association was observed between pollutant exposure and atopic sensitization, atopic disease symptoms, or bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
Conclusions:
- Moderate increases in traffic-related air pollution are associated with increased cough and bronchitis in children.
- Air pollution exposure in this study did not correlate with the development of atopic conditions in children.
- Further research is needed to understand the complex relationship between air quality and pediatric respiratory health.
Abstract:
The impact of inner city air pollution on the development of respiratory and atopic diseases in childhood is still unclear. In a cross sectional study in Dresden, Germany, 5,421 children in two age groups (5-7 yrs and 9-11 yrs) were studied according to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) phase II protocol. The prevalences of wheezing and cough as well as doctor diagnosed asthma and bronchitis were assessed by parental questionnaires. Children also underwent skin-prick testing, venipuncture for the measurement of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E, lung function testing and a bronchial challenge test (4.5% saline) to assess airway hyperresponsiveness. Exposure was assessed on an individual basis by relating mean annual air pollution levels (SO2, NO2, CO, benzene, and O3) which had been measured on a 1 km2 grid, to the home and school address of each study subject. After adjusting for potential confounding factors an increase in the exposure to benzene of 1 microg x m3 air was associated with an increased prevalence of morning cough (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)): 1.15; 1.04-1.27) and bronchitis (aOR: 1.11; 1.03-1.19). Similar associations were observed for NO2 and CO. In turn, the prevalences of atopic sensitization, symptoms of atopic diseases and bronchial hyperresponsiveness were not positively associated with exposure to any of these pollutants. It is concluded that in this study a moderate increase in exposure to traffic-related air pollution was associated with an increased prevalence of cough and bronchitis, but not with atopic conditions in children.