Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
1056826 
Journal Article 
Effects of air pollution on children’s pulmonary health 
Tabaku, A; Bejtja, G; Bala, S; Toci, E; Resuli, J 
2011 
1 
Atmospheric Environment
ISSN: 1352-2310
EISSN: 1873-2844 
45 
40 
7540-7545 
WOS:000298513400002 
Introduction: Many reports regarding the effects of air pollution on children's respiratory health have appeared in the scientific literature. Some investigators found increases in persistent cough and phlegm, bronchitis, and early respiratory infections in communities with poor air quality. The purpose of this survey was to compare the pulmonary function of children living in urban area of Tirana city with children living in suburban area of the city.



Material and methods: This survey is carried out during 2004-2005 period on 238 children living in urban area and in 72 children living in suburban area, measuring dynamic pulmonary function. A questionnaire was used to collect data on sex, current respiratory symptoms, allergy diagnosed by the physician, parent education and smoking habit of parents, presence of animals, synthetic carpets and moulds in their houses. The selection of schools, and children included in this survey was done by randomized method. Also, we have measured and classic air pollutants.



Results: Comparing the results of values of pulmonary function of two groups of children, we have shown that differences were significant (p 0.001), whereas comparing symptoms were for cough (p 0.011) and for phlegm (p 0.032). The level of particulate matter (PM10) and total suspended matter (TSP) were over the recommended limit values, whereas the levels of other pollutants have resulted within recommended levels of World Health Organization (WHO)



Conclusions: The results of this survey suggest that air pollution is associated with respiratory health of children causing a slight decrease in values of pulmonary function in children of urban area compared with those of suburban area. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 
Air pollution; Children; Particulate matter; Total suspended matter; Pulmonary function; Respiratory disease