Health Status of Children's Respiratory Systems and Analysis of Influential Factors in Benxi / 环境与健康杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the health effects of ambient air pollution on the respiratory systems of school children and screen the risk factors associated with respiratory diseases in order to propose air pollution control measures and to protect susceptible population. Methods The air pollution monitoring data were obtained from the local environmental protection bureau. Six thousand elementary school pupils (grade 1 and grade 6, half girls and half boys) were selected from light and heavy air pollution areas. Respiratory health states were assessed by investigation of the children's respiratory symptoms and diseases using a parent-completed questionnaire. The results were analyzed by non-conditional logistic regression analysis to calculate ORs of respiratory symptoms and diseases and 95% confidence intervals, after adjustment for air pollution levels, age, sex, indoor coal-burning, parents' smoking, ventilation and parents' respiratory disease history. Results TSP in lightly and heavily air-polluted areas were 0.59 mg/m3 and 1.02 mg/m3 respectively (P