Hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in children and outdoor air pollution in Southwest Milan, Italy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether a relationship exists in hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in children with outdoor pollution in the Southwest Milan, Italy.


METHODS
Daily count of hospital admissions for asthma, upper or lower respiratory diseases (LRD) occurred among children aged < or =14 years at the San Paolo Hospital during 2007-2008 was recorded. Pollutants included the particular matter of <10 microm diameter, ozone, carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), reported on the same day of admission and 1 up to 5 days before admission. The moving weekly average (MWA) was also considered.


RESULTS
Total respiratory admissions were associated with the same day level of CO (30.6% increase per 1 mg/m(3) increase, 95% confidence interval, 3.9-69.9%) and with the MWA of NO(2) (9.0% increase per 10 microg/m(3) increase, 1.2-16.8%). The effect of CO was stronger on upper respiratory diseases (URD) (lag 0, 21.3% increase, 6.4-38.3%). The effect of NO(2) was stronger on LRD (MWA, 5.3% increase, 0.9-10.2%). Multipollutant models confirmed the role of CO on URD and that of NO(2) on LRD.


CONCLUSIONS
Carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide may be associated with emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions among children in Southwest Milan.
Giovannini
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Sala
M
M
Riva
E
E
Radaelli
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014887:Weather
D000393:Air Pollutants; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide