title: Atopic diseases among schoolchildren in Nikel, Russia, an Arctic area with heavy air pollution.
abstract: The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence rate of atopic diseases among schoolchildren living in the heavily polluted Arctic town of Nikel, Russia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the parents of 1,800 children aged 8-17 years, 1,684 of whom (93.6%) completed and returned the questionnaire. Atopic diseases were reported in 508 (30.2%) of the children and prevalence was similar for both sexes. Atopic dermatitis occurred most frequently (15.5%), followed by allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (13.9%) and asthma (3.9%). The most pronounced influence on atopic diseases in children was having parents with asthma. Indoor dampness was a significant risk factor eliciting atopic diseases, whereas furred pets, passive smoking and carpets did not influence the prevalence of allergy. We conclude that although atopic diseases are a common health problem in Nikel, they are less prevalent than has been reported in recent studies of Northern European countries. Air pollution does not seem to be a major risk factor for the development of atopic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Dotterud
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Odland
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Falk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D001110:Arctic Regions / Q000453:epidemiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires