[A survey of health effects on population exposure to a dust event in Beijing City].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the acute health effects of the population exposure to a dust event in Beijing.


METHODS
A total of 845 children from 4 primary schools and 1653 adults were investigated in Beijing by the questionnaires during a dust event in the spring of 2005. The symptoms, such as upper respiratory and stimuli symptoms, were recorded daily. The daily air pollution (PM10, NO2 and SO2) data were monitored at the same time. The association between the concentrations of air pollutants and the incidence of symptoms in exposed population were analyzed by multiple regression models.


RESULTS
Positive associations were found between the PM15 concentrations and respiratory symptoms both in children and adults during the dust event. The children were more susceptible than adults to air pollution.


CONCLUSIONS
The dust events could have adverse effect on human respiratory health. There were positive association between increased ambient air PM10 concentration and incidence of upper respiratory symptoms.
Zhang
Xin
X
chool of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. syngejane@gmail.com
Wang
Hongyuan
H
Wang
Tao
T
Zhao
Wei
W
Zhang
Zhigang
Z
Wang
Qi
Q
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012621:Seasons; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter