Abstract

VARGAS, Sandra et al. POLLUTION AND RESPIRATORY EFFECTS ON CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN AND OLD AGED PEOPLE. rev.udcaactual.divulg.cient. [online]. 2008, vol.11, n.1, pp.31-45. ISSN 0123-4226.

SUMMARY Respiratory diseases as acute respiratory infection (ARI) and pulmonary chronic obstructive disease (PCOD) are a group of pathologies that affect the respiratory system, being a very common cause of morbidity and mortality on children under five years, pregnant women and adult elders. The main sources of contamination are burning remainders in the rural area, mining and quarries, manufactures, chemical industry, petroleum refinery, generators, motors of combustion and incinerators, the urban transport, the industrial production of energy and other industrial activities All of them are accumulated around in the cities causing a great pollution of the out air. The polluting agents are solid particles in suspension in the air (PSS), gases and scents. In the last years, attention has been paid to the proportion of PSS with inferior sizes to 10µm (particulated material PM 10) that can be inhaled and break into the lung causing injurious effects for the health. Also, there are correlation with the principal inorganic gases compounds like sulfur dioxide (SO₂), the carbon monoxide (CO) and the secondary nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), as well as the some hydrocarbons (HC) as benzene, butadiene and effects on pulmonary disease in three population groups: children under five years. pregnant women and adult elders.

Keywords : Acute respiratory disease; ambient contamination; air.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )