[Air pollution and respiratory symptoms of school children in a panel study in Seoul].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of air pollution on the daily respiratory symptoms of elementary school children in Seoul.


METHODS
Using the panel study design, we collected diary data for the children's respiratory symptoms during the 1st day approximately 15th day of April, July, October and December in 2003 among the 2nd and 3rd grade elementary school students. We merged the respiratory symptom data with the ambient air pollution data that was monitored by Ministry of Environment. Using a generalized estimate equation, we evaluated the relationship between the daily symptoms of the subjects and the exposure to air pollution after controlling for various potential confounders.


RESULTS
The nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure of the current day significantly increased the upper respiratory symptoms (adjusted odds ratio=1.12, 95% CI=1.01-1.24) and the lower respiratory symptoms (adjusted odds ratio=1.18, 95% CI=1.06-1.31) in the elementary school children. The sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) exposure in the current day was associated with the lower respiratory symptoms (adjusted odds ratio=1.12, 95% CI=1.01-1.25 for SO2; adjusted odds ratio=1.16, 95% CI=1.02-1.32 for CO).


CONCLUSIONS
We found that exposure to air pollution affects the daily respiratory symptoms in children. This study suggests that the effect on children's health? due to the short term changes in air pollution levels needs to be considered as an important public health problem.
Lee
Bo-Eun
BE
Korean Centers for Disease Control.
Ha
Eun-Hee
EH
Park
Hye-sook
HS
Kim
Ho
H
Lee
Hyun-Jung
HJ
Lee
Yeon-Kyoung
YK
Lee
Seung-Joo
SJ
Hong
Yun-Chul
YC
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services; D013334:Students