[Air quality and acute respiratory disorders in children].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between air pollution and acute respiratory disorders in children.


METHODS
A time series ecological study was carried out in three public health posts in a region of the city of Rio de Janeiro (Southeastern Brazil), between April 2002 and March 2003. Data for PM10, SO2, NO2, CO and O3 were analyzed daily and as closure variables, a total of 45,595 emergency pediatric consultations for respiratory symptoms or specifically for disorders in the upper and lower airways. To control for confounders, other variables were included in the model including those relating to weather, seasonality, temperature, relative air humidity, rain volume, respiratory infections and the calendar effects (such as holidays and weekends). A Poisson regression was applied using generalized counting models to estimate the effects of pollutants and confusing factors.


RESULTS
Only O3 had a positive and statistically significant effect, both among emergency consultations for respiratory problems and consultations for symptoms relating to the lower airways. Effect and exposure occurred on the same day (lag 0). A significant negative association was found with CO and pediatric consultations for respiratory complaints. Other air pollutants were not found to have a significant effect.


CONCLUSIONS
There were found associations between outdoor air pollution and the number of emergency pediatric consultations for respiratory problems in the studied area, in spite of the fact that the levels of all pollutants monitored during the study period were below recommended levels.
Moura
Marisa
M
Centro de Estudos da Saúde do Trabalhador e Ecologia Humana, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhōes 1480, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. moura@ensp.fiocruz.br
Junger
Washington Leite
WL
Mendonça
Gulnar Azevedo e Silva
GA
De Leon
Antonio Ponce
AP
D000208:Acute Disease; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors
D000393:Air Pollutants