ADVERSE EFFECT OF AIR-POLLUTION ON RESPIRATORY HEALTH OF PRIMARY-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN TAIWAN

This study is a part of the Study On Air Pollution and Health In Taiwa n (SOAP&HIT), an ongoing research project involving cooperation of sev eral universities in Taiwan. ln this study, the objective was to evalu ate the effects of ambient air pollution on respiratory symptoms and d iseases of school children, in addition to considering indoor air poll ution. Six communities were selected: one community located in a rural area (Taihsi), two in urban areas (Keelung and Sanchung), and the oth er three in petrochemical industrial areas (Toufen, Jenwu, and Linyuan ). We sampled 5,072 primary school students in six communities from th e main study population of SOAP&HIT. Respiratory health was assessed b y evaluation of the children's respiratory symptoms and diseases using a parent-completed questionnaire. Data were analyzed using logistic r egression analysis to compute odds ratios of adverse effect. The schoo l children in the urban communities had significantly more respiratory symptoms (day or night cough, chronic cough, shortness of breath, and nasal symptoms) and diseases (sinusitis, wheezing or asthma, allergic rhinitis, and bronchitis) when compared with those living in the rura l community. However, only nasal symptoms of children living in the pe trochemical communities were more prevalent than in those living in th e rural community. Although the association with ambient air pollution is suggestive, the cross-sectional study cannot confirm a causal rela tionship; thus further studies are needed.