title: Asthmatic symptoms and air pollution: a panel study on children living in the Italian Po Valley.
abstract: The Po Valley (Northern Italy) has elevated levels of air-pollution due to various sources of pollution and adverse weather conditions. This study evaluates the short-term effects of exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10) on asthma symptoms in school-aged children. An initial cross-sectional survey was conducted in the area to estimate asthma prevalence in children. Out of a total of 250 asthmatic children identified by the study, 69 agreed to participate in a panel study. The PM10 exposure assessment was based on a combination of geographic and environmental measurements leading to a focus on three different areas, each characterised by its own daily PM10 level. Participants were monitored daily for respiratory symptoms for eight weeks (January-March 2006). We assessed the relationship between daily PM10 exposure and occurrence of asthma symptoms with a generalised linear model based on a total of 3864 person-days of observation. Exposure to PM10 per m³ was found to be particularly associated with cough (OR=1.03, CI 95% 0.99; 1.08) and phlegm (OR=1.05, CI 95% 1.00; 1.10). In the most polluted area, exposure to PM10 was also associated with wheezing (OR=1.18, CI 95% 1.02; 1.37).
authors.affiliation: Reference Centre for Environment and Health, Regional Agency for Environmental Protection in Emilia Romagna, Modena. aranzi@arpa.emr.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranzi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freni Sterrantino
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forastiere
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sartini
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casale
authors.forename: Rino
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cavallini
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Togni
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lauriola
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D015233:Models, Statistical; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D011156:Population Density; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter