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Assessment of respiratory symptoms and asthma prevalence in a U.S.-Mexico border region

George A Stephen1, Cheryl McRill, Maura D Mack

  • 1Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85723, USA. stephen@med.va.gov

Archives of Environmental Health
|October 11, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Asthma prevalence was similar in children on the U.S.-Mexico border. Indoor smoking and outdoor particulate matter (PM10) were linked to increased respiratory symptoms in children.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Respiratory Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood asthma and respiratory symptoms are significant public health concerns.
  • Environmental factors, including air pollution and indoor conditions, are known contributors to respiratory illnesses.
  • Cross-border regions present unique challenges for environmental health research due to differing regulations and socioeconomic factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms in children aged 10-12 years residing in Ambos Nogales, a U.S.-Mexico border region.
  • To assess the relationship between respiratory symptoms and ambient particulate matter less than 10 microm in diameter (PM10).
  • To evaluate the association of indoor environmental conditions, such as home smoking, with respiratory health outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 631 fifth-grade students and their parents in Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora.
  • Baseline questionnaires, daily symptom diaries, and daily peak expiratory flow measurements were collected over an 11-week period in autumn 1996.
  • Ambient PM10 levels and daily temperatures were monitored throughout the study duration.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of self-reported asthma was comparable between the U.S. (7.6%) and Mexico (6.9%) sides of the border.
  • Wheezing (29.5-35.6%) and cough (16.8-29.6%) were frequently reported respiratory symptoms among the children.
  • Home smoking was common and significantly associated with increased asthma and respiratory complaints; higher PM10 levels also correlated with increased symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Asthma prevalence in this border region's children may be underestimated by current reporting methods.
  • Environmental exposures, including indoor smoke and outdoor PM10, play a crucial role in pediatric respiratory health.
  • Public health interventions addressing indoor air quality and ambient pollution are warranted in border communities.

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