Evaluation of external breathing in children living in a region with industrial pollution.
BACKGROUND
The changes in respiratory functions are among the most sensitive indicators available for the evaluation of the influence of air pollution on health.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the respiratory functions of children from three schools situated at a different distance from the major sources of air pollution--an asbestos-cement plant, a fertilizer plant and a steam-power plant which utilize brown coal as a main source of energy.


METHODS
Comprehensive functional investigation of breathing (FIB) was performed on 97 children from the town of Dimitrovgrad--mean age 10.4 +/- 0.1 years and height 145 +/- 0.6 cm (mean +/- Sx) in a special university medical center laboratory. The characterization of the degree of air pollution was based on the analysis of the mean yearly concentrations of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide in the three zones of exposure in the town on the basis of the criteria outlined in the Uniform National System for Control of Air Pollution in Bulgaria.


RESULTS
The mean yearly concentrations of particulate matter up to 0.19 mg/m3, of hydrogen sulphide--up to 0.07 mg/m3, of nitrogen dioxide--up to 0.025 mg/m3, of ammonia--up to 0.16 mg/m3, of hydrogen sulphide--up to 0.13 mg/m3 and lead aerosols--up to 0.00012 mg/m3 recorded at the different stations reached statistical significance at some of them. No significant differences were found in the values of lung function parameters of the healthy children from all three zones. MEF50% (94 +/- 2%) and the Single Breath Transfer Factor (TLCO = 93 +/- 1.5%) showed a tendency towards lower values.


CONCLUSIONS
In the low-grade pollution that we found in the present study no significant differences were found in the lung function parameters of the children from the three regions.
Turnovska
T
T
Department of Hygiene and Ecology, Higher Medical Institute, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Kostianev
S
S
Montchovska
S
S
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002031:Bulgaria; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics
D000393:Air Pollutants