title: [Atmosphere air pollution and health of Kaunas children].
abstract: Many studies support the impact of long-term exposure to air pollution on respiratory and allergic symptoms and illnesses. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of respiratory and allergic symptoms and illnesses in children living in 4 districts of Kaunas, to estimate the indices of respiratory function and to assess the relationship between mentioned indices and air pollutants such as dust, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. A cross-sectional survey included 840 Kaunas children (34 subjects in Senamiestis, 288 in Zaliakalnis, 128 in Petrasiūnai and 390 in Silainiai) aged 6-7 years, whose parents filled out the questionnaire and children performed respiratory function test. Response rate varied from 58.6 percent to 69.2 percents depending on district. Questionnaire of International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) was used. The parameters of respiratory function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, MEF25, MEF50, MEF75, PEF) were measured with Pony Graphics 3.5. The data showed that prevalence of respiratory and allergic symptoms and illnesses in children living in 4 districts of Kaunas did not differ significantly. In most of the cases it was similar to that found in Riga and Tallinn. There is a significant relationship between MEF25, MEF50, MEF75, PEF and sex as well as gas for cooking.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biomedical Research, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eiveniu 4, 3007 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Loreta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strumylaite
authors.forename: Rima
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kregzdyte
authors.forename: Andzele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kontrimaviciūte
authors.forename: Juozas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dudzevicius
authors.forename: Egle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vaitkaitiene
authors.forename: Skirmante
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Starkuviene
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution