Abstract

HERNANDEZ-FLOREZ, Luis J. et al. Air pollution and respiratory illness in children aged less than 5 years-old in Bogotá, 2007. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2013, vol.15, n.4, pp.552-565. ISSN 0124-0064.

Objectives Determining the relationship between indoor and outdoor air pollution caused by particulate matter PM₁₀ and respiratory symptoms in children aged younger than 5 years-old in three locations in Bogota. Methods This was a cohort study, involving 315 children in kindergartens located in the area of greatest exposure to PM₁₀, and 304 in kindergartens located in an area of less exposure. The cohort was followed-up for 19 weeks considering respiratory symptoms. Particulate matter was intramurally and extramurally measured in the kindergartens. Prevalence and association between variables were determined. Results There was a difference regarding average intramural PM between higher and lower exposure (85.6 ug/m³cf 61.8 g/m³; p<0.05); 74.3 % of the children had suffered wheezing during the last year, difference between greater and lesser exposure being 79.6 % cf 69.0 % (p<0.05). Wheezing and coughing were associated with greater exposure to PM₁₀ (RR 1.39 and 1.30). Factors associated with respiratory symptoms concerned passive smoking, having a history of low birth weight, a history of wheezing, a child's kindergarten or home being within 100 meters of (industrial) chimneys, high traffic flow routes, roads in disrepair and bed-sharing. Discussion A child aged less than 5 years-old exposed to PM₁₀ had a 1.7 times higher risk of truancy due to acute respiratory illness; a decrease in PM₁₀ reduced such truancy by 41.1 %.

Keywords : Particulate matter; air pollutant; respiratory tract disease; asthma.

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