Nitrogen dioxide and acute respiratory tract infections in children in Indonesia

We evaluated associations between air pollution (nitrogen dioxide [NO₂] and sulfur dioxide [SO₂]) and health in children aged 0-3 years in Indonesia. We included 4931 Indonesian children born between 2009 and 2011. We assigned participants provincial-levels of NO₂ and SO₂ and examined associations with low birth weight, infant death, neonatal death, and acute respiratory infection (ARI). We estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a generalized estimating equations logistic regression model. NO₂ exposure increased the risk for ARI. An interquartile range increase in mean NO₂ exposure increased the risk for ARI by 18% (OR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08-1.28), and was supported by quartile exposure category. SO₂ was not associated with the examined child health outcomes. NO₂ exposure increased the risk for respiratory infections in early childhood in Indonesia. AbbreviationsARIacute respiratory infectionCIconfidence intervalGDRBGross Domestic Regional BrutoGEEgeneralized estimating equationsIDHSIndonesian Demographic Health SurveyIQRinterquartile rangeLBWlow birth weightNO₂nitrogen dioxideORodds ratioSO₂sulfur dioxide.