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Urban air pollution and asthma in children
Giuseppe Migliaretti1, Franco Cavallo
1Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. giuseppe.migliaretti@unito.it
Insights
Increased exposure to urban air pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and total suspended particulates is linked to higher emergency hospital admissions for childhood asthma in Turin. This study highlights the impact of air quality on pediatric respiratory health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood asthma is a significant public health concern.
- Urban air pollution is a suspected environmental trigger for respiratory exacerbations.
- Understanding the specific impact of pollutants on pediatric asthma admissions is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between specific urban air pollutants and emergency hospital admissions for asthma in children.
- To quantify the risk modification for pediatric asthma admissions related to increased exposure to nitrogen dioxide and total suspended particulates.
- To provide evidence supporting the link between air quality and pediatric respiratory health in Turin.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed in Turin between 1997 and 1999.
- Cases comprised pediatric patients (< 15 years) admitted for asthma; controls were age-matched patients admitted for non-respiratory/non-cardiac conditions.
- Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between pollutant exposure (NO2, TSP) and asthma admissions, adjusting for confounders.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in emergency admissions for respiratory causes was observed with higher exposure to both nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and total suspended particulates (TSP).
- For every 10 microg/m(3) increment in NO2, admissions rose by 2.8% (95% CI, 0.7-4.9%).
- For every 10 microg/m(3) increment in TSP, admissions rose by 1.8% (95% CI, 0.3-3.2%).
Conclusions:
- The study confirms a significant association between exposure to principal urban air pollutants and increased hospital emergency admissions for respiratory causes in children.
- Findings align with previous research on air pollution and pediatric respiratory admissions in other Italian and European cities.
- This research underscores the importance of air quality monitoring and control to mitigate pediatric asthma exacerbations.
Abstract:
This study investigated the relationship between atmospheric pollution and emergency hospital admission for asthma among children resident in Turin in the period 1997-1999, using a case-control design. On the basis of the primary diagnosis, pediatric patients (< 15 years old) resident in Turin and admitted for asthma were defined as cases (n(1) = 1,060); age-matched patients admitted for causes other than respiratory diseases or heart diseases were defined as controls (n(2) = 25,523). Nitrogen dioxide (NO(2) in microg/m(3)) and total suspended particulates (TSP in microg/m(3)) were considered as indicators of urban air pollution; sex and age of patient, seasonality, temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and day of admission were considered as principal confounders. Statistical analyses were performed using simple and multiple logistic regression models; the association between emergency admission for asthma and exposure was shown as percentage of risk modification for a 10 microg/m(3) increment of exposure to each pollutant and relative 95% confidence interval. The number of emergency admissions for respiratory causes rose significantly with increased exposure to each pollutant: 2.8% (95% CI, 0.7-4.9%) and 1.8% (95% CI, 0.3-3.2) for a 10 microg/m(3) increment of exposure to NO(2) and TSP, respectively. A significant association was found between increased number of hospital emergency admissions for respiratory causes and exposure to principal urban pollutants in Turin. The study confirms the results reported for other Italian and European cities, using a case-control design.
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