Abstract
BackgroundHeavy industry emits many potentially hazardous pollutants into the air which can affect health. However, the effects of air pollution from heavy industry on lung function and respiratory symptoms have been investigated scarcely. Our aim was to investigate the associations of long-term air pollution from heavy industry with lung function and respiratory symptoms in school children.MethodsA cross-sectional lung function study was conducted among school children (7–13 years) in the vicinity of an area with heavy industry. Lung function measurements were conducted during school hours. Parents of the children were asked to complete a questionnaire about the health of their children. A dispersion model was used to characterize the additional individual-level exposures to air pollutants from the industry in the area. Associations between PM2.5 and NOX exposure with lung function and presence of respiratory symptoms were investigated by linear and/or logistic regression analysis.ResultsParticipation in the lung function measurements and questionnaires was 84% (665/787) and 77% (603/787), respectively. The range of the elevated PM2.5 and NOX five years average concentrations (2008–2012) due to heavy industry were 0.04–1.59 μg/m3 and 0.74–11.33 μg/m3 respectively. After adjustment for confounders higher exposure to PM2.5 and NOX (per interquartile range of 0.56 and 7.43 μg/m3 respectively) was associated with lower percent predicted peak expiratory flow (PEF) (B -2.80%, 95%CI -5.05% to − 0.55% and B -3.67%, 95%CI -6.93% to − 0.42% respectively). Higher exposure to NOX (per interquartile range of 7.43 μg/m3) was also associated with lower percent forced vital capacity (FVC) and percent predicted forced expiration volume in 1 s (FEV1) (B -2.30, 95% CI -4.55 to − 0.05 and B -2.73, 95%CI -5.21 to − 0.25 respectively). No significant associations were found between the additional exposure to PM2.5 or NOX and respiratory symptoms except for PM2.5 and dry cough (OR 1.40, 95%CI 1.00 to 1.94).ConclusionExposure to PM2.5 and NOX from industry was associated with decreased lung function. Exposure to PM2.5 was also associated with parents’ reports of dry cough among their children.
Highlights
Heavy industry emits many potentially hazardous pollutants into the air which can affect health
Lung function School children aged 7–13 years underwent an examination of the lung function by one of the two experienced operators, each using one of the two portable spirometers (EasyOne, NDD Medical Technologies, Zürich, Switzerland)
Sufficient ventilation was measured with the question: Can you indicate how long the living room is ventilated during winter? If the room was not continuous ventilated, the ventilation was categorized as insufficient
Summary
Heavy industry emits many potentially hazardous pollutants into the air which can affect health. In Canada a cross-sectional study among children (aged 6 to 18 years) found a significant reduction of 1% in predicted FEV1 (1-s forced expiratory volume) due to an increase of 190 t of industrial air PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) emissions within 25 km of residence. In Italy a cross-sectional study among children (aged 6 to 14 years) living in the vicinity of petrochemical industry showed a lower lung function (10.3% FEV1 and 12.9% MMEF (maximum midexpiratory flow)) and an increase in wheezing symptoms (adjusted prevalence ratio of 1.70) compared to children in a reference area [9]. A Spanish cross-sectional study among children (aged 13 to 14 years) living in the neighbourhood of petrochemical industry versus children with no industry in surrounding areas found no significant associations between exposure and lung function or respiratory symptoms [10]
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