title: Active and uncontrolled asthma among children exposed to air stack emissions of sulphur dioxide from petroleum refineries in Montreal, Quebec: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little attention has been devoted to the effects on children's respiratory health of exposure to sulphur dioxide (SO2) in ambient air from local industrial emissions. Most studies on the effects of SO(2) have assessed its impact as part of the regional ambient air pollutant mix.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between exposure to stack emissions of SO(2) from petroleum refineries located in Montreal's (Quebec) east-end industrial complex and the prevalence of active asthma and poor asthma control among children living nearby.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present cross-sectional study used data from a respiratory health survey of Montreal children six months to 12 years of age conducted in 2006. Of 7964 eligible households that completed the survey, 842 children between six months and 12 years of age lived in an area impacted by refinery emissions. Ambient SO(2) exposure levels were estimated using dispersion modelling. Log-binomial regression models were used to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% CIs for the association between yearly school and residential SO(2) exposure estimates and asthma outcomes. Adjustments were made for child's age, sex, parental history of atopy and tobacco smoke exposure at home.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adjusted PR for the association between active asthma and SO(2) levels was 1.14 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.39) per interquartile range increase in modelled annual SO(2). The effect on poor asthma control was greater (PR=1.39 per interquartile range increase in modelled SO(2) [95% CI 1.00 to 1.94]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the present study suggest a relationship between exposure to refinery stack emissions of SO(2) and the prevalence of active and poor asthma control in children who live and attend school in proximity to refineries.
authors.affiliation: Direction de santé publique de l' Agence de las sante services sociaux de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Québec.
authors.forename: Leylâ
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deger
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plante
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacques
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goudreau
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perron
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kosatsky
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smargiassi
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D007220:Industrial Waste; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide