[Prospective epidemiologic study on respiratory diseases in children in Cracow. Pilot study]

After introducing the main purpose of the project on the outdoor and indoor air quality and children's health in Cracow, the paper presents the results of the pilot study carried out in the higher polluted city area (suspended particulate matter: 51.5-74.5 micrograms/m3/year; SO2: 58.4-73.8 micrograms/m33/year) and in the less polluted area (suspended particulate matter: 31.7 micrograms/m3/year; SO2: 36.1 microgram/m3/year). The pilot study covered 171 children. There was an excess of chronic respiratory symptoms in children from the higher polluted area, but only the frequency of shortness of breath in boys and attacks of shortness of breath with wheezing in girls were significantly higher in those living in the polluted area. Spirometric indices were significantly lower in both boys and girls in the residence area with the higher air pollution level. The data on prevalence of respiratory diseases in the pilot study will be used to estimate the size of the sample needed in the other stages of the prospective study.