Pulmonary function and urban air pollution in preschool children

Epidemiologic evidence indicates that respiratory disease in infancy and ch ildhood has respiratory health consequences in later life. Pulmonary functi on is considered a good index of early effects. This study assessed the rel ationship of pulmonary function in preschool children in Leipzig, Germany, and exposure to high levels of air pollution during early childhood. Spirometric measures were taken of 235 preschoolers (126 boys, 109 girls, m ean age 5.1 +/- 1.3 years) attending 16 randomly selected daycare centres, using the 'Bosch Spiro 501' spirometer. The results showed decrements in th e average FVC (85.5 % predicted [pred]) and FEV1 (90.2 % pred) differing wi th spatial variations in the ambient air pollution burden of the children's residential area. Exposure to a pollution profile of heavy traffic and/or domestic heating showed markedly lower FVC (78.9 % and 85.5 % pred, respect ively) and FEV1 (82.4 % and 88.5 % pred). Miller's Diagnostic Quadrant Mode l of Disease Classification, categorizing pulmonary function data for preli minary diagnostic purposes, assessed the lung function values (FVC % pred / relative FEV1 [FEV1/FVC] %) of a significant number of children as 'restri ctions' (n = 52; 22.1 %). Summarizing: variations in spirometric indices we re observed across exposure groups with a significant number of children sh owing signs of a restrictive ventilatory function. These cross-sectional da ta, however, do not permit to conclude with any degree of certainty that th is is indicative of an early sign of a functional deficit.