The Influence of Air Pollutants on the Acute Respiratory Diseases in Children in the Urban Area of Guadalajara

Abstract

Today environmental pollution problems are well known, particularly air pollution, which gives rise to health risks and impacts the well being of the population. Many of the pollutants emitted into the atmosphere generate problems in the short and long term (i.e. global warming, climate change); also at local and regional levels, they generate public health problems such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases (Ramirez-Sanchez et al., 2006; Romieu, 1991, 1995; Segala, 1999; World Health Organization/United Nations Environmental Programme [WHO/UNEP], 1995; Departamento del Distrito Federal/Gobierno del Estado de Mexico/ Secretaria del Medio Ambiente, Recursos Naturales y Pesca/Secretaria de Salud [DDF/GEM/SEMARNAP/SS], 1990). Both in the clinical and public health fields, air pollution is a phenomenon known and studied for a long time; however, it gained importance because of a series of episodes that occurred during the first half of the 20th century. The events of Meuse Valley, Belgium in 1930 (Firket, 1936), Donora, Pennsylvania, USA in 1948 (Shrenk, 1949) and London in December 1952 (Ministry of Health, United Kingdom [MHUK], 1954), would perhaps be the most notable and characteristic. These exceptional circumstances resulted in an increase in the mortality and morbidity rate, which left no doubt that high levels of air pollution are causally associated with an increase in early deaths (Schwartz & Marcus, 1990). In the London episode, dense fog covered the city from December 5th through the 8th of 1952, accompanied by an increase in mortality. The number of deaths attributed to this episode was between 3,500 and 4,000. This evidence led to the adoption of air pollution reduction control policies in Western Europe and in the United States. Children are particularly vulnerable to environmental risks. Over 40% of global morbidity is attributed to environmental conditions affecting children under 5 years of age, a risk about four times greater than in the general population (Smith et al., 1999; Pan American Health Organization [PAHO], 2004b). According to data from PAHO/WHO, there is little information on incidence and prevalence of respiratory diseases belonging to the group of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI). However, in Latin American countries, all agree that the ARI represents the main cause of pediatric outpatient cases. Some studies have shown that between 40 and 60