AIR-POLLUTION AND RESPIRATORY HEALTH AMONG CHILDREN WITH ASTHMATIC ORCOUGH SYMPTOMS

During the winter of 1994, the association between daily changes in ai r pollution and in the respiratory health of children 7 to 12 yr of ag e were studied in Kuopio; Finland. Seventy-four children with asthmati c symptoms and 95 children with cough only, living either in urban or suburban areas, were followed for 3 mo. During the study period, the m ean daily concentration of particulate air pollution (PM10) was 18 mu g/m(3) in the urban area and 13 mu g/m(3) in the suburban area. Lagged concentrations of PM10, black smoke, and NO, were significantly assoc iated with declines in morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) among asthma tic children. The regression coefficient (X 10) for a 2-d lag of PM10 was -0.911 (SE, 0.386) in the urban and -1.05 (0.596), in the suburban area. Among children with cough only, PM10, black smoke, and NO2 were not significantly associated with PEF. In the urban area, there was a significant association between SO2 and morning and evening PEF and i ncidence of upper respiratory symptoms among children who cough only. No other associations between air pollution and evening PEF or respira tory symptoms were observed. This study suggests that particulate air pollution is associated with respiratory health, especially among chil dren with asthmatic symptoms.