Airway diseases and allergies in East and West German children during the first 5 years after reunification: time trends and the impact of sulphur dioxide and total suspended particles

Background East-West comparison studies in Europe find higher prevalences o f infectious airway diseases and lower prevalences of allergies in eastern areas. Pollution from sulphur dioxide (SO2) or total suspended particles (T SP) are discussed as causes of this difference. Methods In four differently polluted areas of East Germany where pollution decreased dramatically between 1989 and 1995 cross-sectional studies in abo ut 7-year-old children were repeated every year between 1991 and 1995. In t wo differently polluted areas of West Germany studies with the same design were done in 1991 and 1994. In all, 19 090 children participated in the stu dy. Thirteen different questions about airway diseases and allergies were e valuated. Logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding. Results With the exception of pneumonia, all infectious airway diseases and irritations of the airways show a steeper temporal decrease in East than i n West Germany or are positively associated with either SO2 or TSP in East Germany. For allergies and related symptoms no differences in time trends c ould be detected or no association with SO2 or TSP could be seen in East Ge rmany. Conclusion Most airway diseases were more frequent in East than in West Ger many in 1991 and were associated with SO2 or TSP. The decrease in these pol lutants between 1991 and 1995 has already had a favourable effect. An effec t of SO2 or TSP pollution on allergies and related symptoms could not be de tected. This pollution does not protect against the development of allergie s.