Impact of air pollution on the rate of hospital admission of children with respiratory diseases

Abstract

Numerous epidemiological studies have reported effects of air pollution on the prevalence of respiratory diseases in children. Association between air pollution and hospital admissions for respiratory diseases among children has not been investigated in our country yet. The purpose of this study was to examine impact of ordinary air pollutants (sulfur dioxide and black smoke) in concentrations regulary reported during monitoring on hospital admissions for respiratory diseases among children. We compared daily data of sulphur dioxide and black smoke concentrations in air with data of daily hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in children 0-14 years of age in two periods (1992-1995 and 2002-2005) in Nis, Serbia. There were totally 4 283 and 3 842 hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in children in the first (1992-1995), and the second (2002-2005) period observed, respectively. The highest number of hospital admissions was registered in children aged 0-4 years, and the lowest one in children aged 10-14 years. Statistically significant influence of pollutants on the number of hospital admissions for respiratory diseases was observed in the period 1992-1995 in children aged 0-4 years. Overall, a 10 microg/m3 increase in black smoke concentration was associated with a 3.95% (95% CI 1.29-6.67%) increase in the rate of hospital admission for respiratory diseases after three days, 4.50% (1.77-7.30%) after four days and 7.15% (1.21-13.44%) after seven days. A 10 microg/m3 increase in sulphur dioxide concentration was associated with a 1.29% (0.03-2.56%) increases in the rate of hospital admission for respiratory illness after three days. Influence of air pollution on the number of hospital admissions in older groups of children, as well as in the period 2002-2005 was not statistically significant. Our study suggested that air pollution concentration measured during regular monitoring, out of episodes of pollution, appear to be risk for hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in children age 0-4 years.