| Title: | Increased asthma and respiratory symptoms in children exposed to petrochemical pollution |
| Author(s): | Wichmann FA; Muller A; Busi LE; Cianni N; Massolo L; Schlink U; Porta A; Sly PD; |
| Address: | "Instituto del Desarrollo de Investigaciones Pediatricas Prof Dr Fernando Viteri Hospital de Ninos SM Ludovica, La Plata, Argentina. fwichmann@hotmail.com" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.09.052 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1097-6825 (Electronic) 0091-6749 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies show statistical associations between levels of air pollutants and respiratory outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the effects of exposure to petrochemical pollution on the respiratory health of children. METHODS: Children aged 6 to 12 years living close to the petrochemical plants in La Plata, Argentina (n = 282), were compared with those living in a region with exposure to heavy traffic (n = 270) or in 2 relatively nonpolluted areas (n = 639). Parents answered a validated questionnaire providing health and demographic data. A random sample (n = 181) had lung function measured. Particulate matter and outdoor and indoor volatile organic compound levels were measured during 4-week study periods and reported as overall means for each study area. RESULTS: Children living near the petrochemical plant had more asthma (24.8% vs 10.1% to 11.5%), more asthma exacerbations (6.7 vs 2.9-3.6 per year), more respiratory symptoms (current wheeze, dyspnea, nocturnal cough, and rhinitis), and lower lung function (>13% decrease in FEV(1) percent predicted) than those living in other regions. Length of residence in the area was a significant risk factor, but age, sex, body mass index, proximity to busy roads and other nonpetrochemical industries, length of breast-feeding, and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of children or their families were not. CONCLUSION: Exposure to particulate matter and volatile organic compounds arising from petrochemical plants but not from high traffic density was associated ith worse respiratory health in children" |
| Keywords: | "*Air Pollution Alkanes/toxicity Argentina/epidemiology Asthma/epidemiology/*physiopathology Child Cycloparaffins/toxicity Female Humans Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/toxicity Male Petroleum/*toxicity Surveys and Questionnaires;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineWichmann, Fernando A Muller, Andrea Busi, Luciano E Cianni, Natalia Massolo, Laura Schlink, Uwe Porta, Andres Sly, Peter David eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2008/12/30 J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Mar; 123(3):632-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.09.052. Epub 2008 Dec 25" |
