title: Asthma, respiratory symptoms and lung function in children living near a petrochemical site.
abstract: Residential proximity to environmental hazards has been related to adverse health outcomes. Respiratory health and allergies in children living near petrochemical sites have not been extensively studied. We evaluated the association between residential proximity to the petrochemical site of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain) and the prevalence of asthma, respiratory symptoms and lung function in children. Children aged 6-7 (n=2672) and adolescents aged 13-14 (n=2524) residing near two large petrochemical sites and those living in a city with medium vehicular traffic were cross-sectionally compared with children from an area with low vehicular traffic and without industry. The prevalence of symptoms was measured using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood written and video questionnaires. Lung function measurements were done in a subsample of 959 adolescents in the four areas. Multivariable analyses were done to estimate the effects of the residential area on symptoms and lung function adjusted for potential confounders. Crude prevalence of symptoms was similar across the studied areas. After adjustment, children and adolescents living near a petrochemical site had a statistically significant higher prevalence of respiratory hospitalizations in the previous year (Prevalence Ratio (PR)=1.49; 95%CI, 1.06-2.09) and of nocturnal cough (PR=1.29; 95%CI 1.05-1.57), respectively. Reduced lung function values among adolescents residing near the petrochemical areas were not observed. Although a higher prevalence of asthma in children and adolescents living near the petrochemical sites could not be demonstrated, as described in other studies, respiratory hospitalizations and nocturnal cough could be related to short-term exposures to pollutants. Other clinical and sub-clinical respiratory health effects in the petrochemical industry areas should be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Observatory of Health and Environment, Catalonia Public Health Agency, Health Department, Generalitat de Catalunya, Av. Maria Cristina, 54, Tarragona 43002, Spain; Institut d׳Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Av. de la Universitat, 1, Reus 43204, Spain. Electronic address: enric.rovira@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Enric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rovira
authors.affiliation: Observatory of Health and Environment, Catalonia Public Health Agency, Health Department, Generalitat de Catalunya, Av. Maria Cristina, 54, Tarragona 43002, Spain; Institut d׳Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Av. de la Universitat, 1, Reus 43204, Spain. Electronic address: annam.cuadras@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuadras
authors.affiliation: Pneumology Service, Tarragona University Hospital Joan XXIII, Institut Català de la Salut, c/Doctor Mallafré Guasch, 4, Tarragona 43005, Spain. Electronic address: xaguilar.hj23.ics@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.affiliation: Pneumology Service, Tarragona University Hospital Joan XXIII, Institut Català de la Salut, c/Doctor Mallafré Guasch, 4, Tarragona 43005, Spain. Electronic address: lesteban.hj23.ics@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), c/Doctor Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, 10-12, Barcelona 08002, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain. Electronic address: aborras@creal.cat.
authors.forename: Alícia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borràs-Santos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), c/Doctor Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, 10-12, Barcelona 08002, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), P.O. Box 1568, Utrecht 3500 BN, the Netherlands. Electronic address: jpzock@creal.cat.
authors.forename: Jan-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zock
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), c/Doctor Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè, 10-12, Barcelona 08002, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Passeig Marítim, 25-29, Barcelona 08003, Spain. Electronic address: jsunyer@creal.cat.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sunyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002617:Chemical Industry; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Air pollution; Allergy; Asthma; Lung function testing; Petrochemical industry