A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF AMBIENT AIR-POLLUTANTS AND THE LUNG PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW-RATES AMONG ASTHMATIC-CHILDREN IN HUNGARY

Background. We conducted this study in Budapest, Hungary, to better ch aracterize the effects of exposure to ambient air pollutants on the lu ng function of asthmatic children. Methods. The 60 study participants were 9-14 years old, had physician-diagnosed asthma, and were symptoma tic during the previous year. Their ambient air pollutant exposures to total suspended particulates (TSP) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) were est imated from measurements made at the air monitor nearest their residen ce. We used analysis of variance and a fixed-effects model to assess t he impact of the pollutants upon their morning and evening peak expira tory flow rates (PEFR) from 13 September to 5 December 1993. Results. Total suspended particulates and SO2 concentrations exceeded World Hea lth Organization guideline limits on several days. Pollutant concentra tions and PEFR increased during the study period. After adjusting for temperature, humidity, weekend/weekday, and the time trend, we found n o consistent association between air pollutant concentrations and PEFR . Conclusions. Fall to winter seasonal changes had a large influence o n PEFR and may have overshadowed the effects of the air pollutants dur ing the study period. Seasonal influences should be carefully consider ed when planning future studies.