The Following of the Respiratory Disorders of Children Aged 7-11 Exposed to Urban Air Pollution with Irritants
Air pollution with irritating pollutants is an important problem in Central-Eastern European countries. The great industrial units are the biggest sources of pollution and contribute to the increase of many respiratory diseases.
In our study we used a respiratory symptomes questionnaire which follows the health state of primary schoolchildren in the town of Targu-Mures, in comparison with other towns with different grade of pollution. In the next stage lung function tests and air quality measurements were made. The results of the study were compared with the results obtained ten years ago during a similar research.
The air quality measurements show levels of NO2, NH3 and particulate solid exceeding the standards in less cases than in 1996 due the reduced activity of the fertilizer factory which is the main industrial pollutant of the town.
Odds ratios calculated for different symptoms and diseases prove the higher risk in the exposed group than in the control group, but lower risk than ten years ago. The most frequent respiratory symptoms and illnesses were cough, rhinorrhoea, wheezing, respectively bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma. The prevalence of early and day-time/night cough, rhinorrhoea and bronchitis is significantly higher among boys aged between 7-11 than girls. Each of the mentioned respiratory disorders had higher prevalence among the pupils from the school placed in the industrial area.
This study have confirmed the strong relationship between the presence of irritants and the appearance of any respiratory effects in the infantile population. Primary and secondary prevention are very important to reduce these effects.