HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR ASTHMA IN PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN - RELATIONSHIP TO MAJOR ROADS IN BIRMINGHAM, UNITED-KINGDOM

This study examined the relationship between residence near major road s, traffic flow, and risk of hospital admission for asthma in children younger than 5 y of age living in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Area of residence and traffic flow patterns were compared for children admitt ed to the hospital for asthma, children admitted for nonrespiratory re asons, and a random sample of children from the community. Children ad mitted with an asthma diagnosis were significantly more likely to live in an area with high traffic flow (> 24 000 vehicles/24 h) located al ong the nearest segment of main road than were children admitted for n onrespiratory reasons (p < .02) or children from the community(p < .00 2). A significant linear trend was observed for traffic flow (p < .006 ) for children living less than 500 m from a main road but not for tho se living farther away. Children admitted for nonrespiratory reasons w ere more likely to be admitted than children in the community sample i f they lived within 200 m of a main road (p < .02), irrespective of tr affic flow.