EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL AIR-POLLUTION ON PULMONARY RESPONSE TO METHACHOLINE IN SCHOOLCHILDREN

The present study was performed to compare bronchial reactivity, measu red by methacholine inhalation test, in a group of school children liv ing in an industrialized area (Priolo, Siracusa, Italy) with another g roup of children living in a nonpolluted, nonindustrialized area (Scic li, Ragusa, Italy). All the children came from the fifth primary class of their school and represented all the children of that age group in each school. Eighty-nine children in Priolo and 93 in Scicli were enr olled in the study. The information on asthma, bronchitis, and passive smoking exposure was collected by a standardized and validated questi onnaire. No statistical differences were recorded between the study an d the control group for age, gender, cigarette smoking by parents or t he children themselves, and parents' educational level. A statisticall y different significance was recorded for paternal job, which were wor kers in Priolo industries and farmers in Scicli (p < 0.01). No differe nces between the two groups were reported for asthma diagnosis and ato pic status, but in the study group there was a statistical significant increase of bronchitis (tracheobronchial inflammation with mucus hype rproduction), 13 at Priolo and 3 at Scicli (p < 0.01). The methacholin e was administered with the nebulizer connected to a dosimeter using a compressed air source (Mefar dosimeter). Bronchial reactivity of chil dren living in the Priolo area was statistically higher (p < 0.001) th an that of the control group living in Scicli. In the study group, 23 children (26%) demonstrated a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1), while only 4 (4.3%) from the control group pr esented a similar reduction. The mean PD20 of the Priolo group was sig nificantly lower (ie, 832 +/- 591 mg), than the mean of the Scicli gro up (ie, 1215 +/- 675 mg). The results of the present study suggest tha t industrial pollution can be responsible for an increase in bronchial reactivity, and could, therefore, potentially contribute to an increa se in the incidence and severity of respiratory disease in children.