Effect of sulfur dioxide and particulate pollutants on bronchitis in children - A risk analysis

The general morbidity is being influenced to a great extent by diseases of the respiratory tract. Since their incidence and prevalence have been incre asing, the identification of causal factors, especially of environmental or igin, is of importance, not just in view of implementing preventive control strategies. Primary irritative gaseous [like sulfur dioxide (SO2)] as well as particulate pollutants (like TSP) can be regarded as causal constituent s. Using the opportunity of changing levels of ambient air pollution in Eas t Germany since 1989, the impact of SO2 and TSP on bronchitis was investiga ted over the last 10 years as part of several intervention studies in a loc ally defined homogenous population, children. The data suggest a significan t association between SO2 and the prevalence of bronchitis in children but not for TSP. Considering the findings of other studies with respect to air pollution and the epidemiology of adverse health effects (especially respir atory disease), these results would amend the hypothesis put forward in a r eview of the literature as TSP < ultrafine particles (SO42-) = SO2. Althoug h these data show a significant association with only SO2, this does not im ply that ultrafine particles, such as SO42-, do not contribute to the assoc iation with the observed adverse health effects. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that TSP seems less likely to be a predictor in the association wi th respiratory diseases, particularly not in the presence of high SO2. (C) 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.