Features of the formation of combined pathology in children under conditions of atmospheric air pollution

Abstract

Introduction. Respiratory diseases are widely spread o territories with ambient air contaminated with a mixture of technogenic chemical factors. At present, there hasn’t been enough research on an issue related to combined pathology occurrence in children with chronic respiratory diseases under exposure to harmful technogenic compounds. Material and methods. We have accomplished a profound clinical examination of 216 children aged 5-12 years who lived on a territory with ambient air contaminated with methanol, phenol, formaldehyde, and particulate matter (the test group) and 97 children who lived on a territory which was sanitary and hygienically safe (the reference group). Results. We revealed the long-term aerogenic exposure to particulate matter and organic compounds (methanol, phenol, and formaldehyde) resulted in a combined pathology occurrence. Thus, 81.9% exposed children with chronic respiratory diseases also suffered from functional gastric pathologies; ⅔ children - from nervous system pathologies; 43.5% had secondary immune deficiency; each third child had functional disorders of the heart. Exposed children ran 1.8-2.5 times higher risks of respiratory diseases, biliary dysfunctions, and minor heart defects. Conclusions. We revealed several pathogenetic sections typical for developing combined pathologies in children with chronic respiratory diseases under long-term aerogenic exposure to particulate matter and organic compounds. They were a decrease in superoxide dismutase concentration in blood; lower glutathione-S-transferase contents; lower absolute number of CD25+-lymphocytes; reduced vital capacity of lungs; increased levels of kreatine phosphokinase and ionized calcium in blood; more active parasympathetic vegetative nervous system; all these disiorders were related to methanol, phenol, and formaldehyde concentrations in blood and particulate matter concentrations in ambient air.