| Author/Editor | Besednjak-Kocijančič, Lilijana | |
| Title | Onesnaženje zraka z ozonom negativno vpliva na urejenost astme pri otrocih | |
| Translated title | Relationship between ozone exposure and asthma control in children | |
| Type | članek | |
| Source | Zdrav Vestn | |
| Vol. and No. | Letnik 78, št. 10 | |
| Publication year | 2009 | |
| Volume | str. 540-7 | |
| Language | slo | |
| Abstract | Background: Air pollution adversely af ects the health of population. Children are at grea-ter risk than adults to the adverse ef ects of air pollution because their respiratory systems are still developing, so they may be adversely at ected by lower ozone concentrations than those that would af ect adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of ozone on the control of allergic asthma in children.Materials and methods: In the study were included 161 asthmatic children under 15 years, with asthma, living in the same area. Clinical course of asthma was observed during two seasons: A ‐ summer 2006 with high and B ‐ summer 2007 with usual ozone levels for the season and area. Asthma symptoms, reliever usage, morning peak-l ow (PEF) values and asthma-related hospital admissions were 8-hour target value of 120 µg/m3 (?2 = 179.17; P < 0.0001). Positive inl uence on hospital ad-missions was observed, when ozone concentration exceeded the threshold hourly value (180 µg/m3), (P = 0.019) or the 8-hour target value (P = 0.024).Conclusions: We demonstrated a signii cant effect of ozone on asthma control even at concentrations bellow information threshold values observed. Local daily concentrations of ozone and meteorological data were obtained from the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia. Results: Lower morning PEF rates, higher reliever usage and more asthma-related hospital admissions (P < 0.01) were observed in period A. In both periods a signii cant increase of daily asthma symptoms was observed as early as ozone concentration exceeded the 8-hour target value of 120 µg/m3 (?2 = 179.17; P<0.0001). Positive influence on hospital admissions was observed, when ozone concentration exceeded the threshold hourly value (180 µg/m3), (P = 0.019) or the 8-hour target value (P = 0.024).Conclusions: We demonstrated a significant effect of ozone on asthma control even at concentrations bellow information threshold values. | |
| Descriptors | ASTHMA DISEASE PROGRESSION AIR POLLUTANTS, ENVIRONMENTAL OZONE METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS CHILD |