title: Increased asthma and respiratory symptoms in children exposed to petrochemical pollution.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiologic studies show statistical associations between levels of air pollutants and respiratory outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the effects of exposure to petrochemical pollution on the respiratory health of children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children aged 6 to 12 years living close to the petrochemical plants in La Plata, Argentina (n = 282), were compared with those living in a region with exposure to heavy traffic (n = 270) or in 2 relatively nonpolluted areas (n = 639). Parents answered a validated questionnaire providing health and demographic data. A random sample (n = 181) had lung function measured. Particulate matter and outdoor and indoor volatile organic compound levels were measured during 4-week study periods and reported as overall means for each study area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children living near the petrochemical plant had more asthma (24.8% vs 10.1% to 11.5%), more asthma exacerbations (6.7 vs 2.9-3.6 per year), more respiratory symptoms (current wheeze, dyspnea, nocturnal cough, and rhinitis), and lower lung function (>13% decrease in FEV(1) percent predicted) than those living in other regions. Length of residence in the area was a significant risk factor, but age, sex, body mass index, proximity to busy roads and other nonpetrochemical industries, length of breast-feeding, and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of children or their families were not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to particulate matter and volatile organic compounds arising from petrochemical plants but not from high traffic density was associated ith worse respiratory health in children.
authors.affiliation: Instituto del Desarrollo de Investigaciones Pediátricas Prof Dr Fernando Viteri Hospital de Niños SM Ludovica, La Plata, Argentina. fwichmann@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Fernando A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Wichmann
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Luciano E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Busi
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cianni
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Massolo
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlink
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porta
authors.forename: Peter David
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Sly
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution; D000473:Alkanes / Q000633:toxicity; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003516:Cycloparaffins / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D003516:Cycloparaffins; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D010578:Petroleum