Effect of air pollution on respiratory health of school children

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of air pollution on respiratory health of school children in Zhoushan and Hangzhou Cities and to promote effective intervention measures to reduce the incidence of diseases among school children.

MethodsA group of 605 students from Hangzhou Modern Experimental Primary School (pollution area) and another group of 600 students from two primary schools in Zhoushan (clean areas) were selected by cluster sampling. These students were investigated by health questionnaire and counted by registration of illness-induced absence. Data were analyzed using t test, Chi-square test and logistic regression.

ResultsThe average concentrations of PM_2.5, SO₂, NO₂ and PM₁₀ in Hangzhou were 56.27, 11.53, 51.58 and 85.34 μg/m³ respectively, which were higher than those (26.71, 8.99, 19.86 and 44.42 μg/m³ respectively) in Zhoushan. The incidence rate of respiratory diseases among school children in Hangzhou was 17.83%, which was higher than that of Zhoushan(P < 0.05). Logistic analysis showed that the incidence rate of respiratory diseases in the contaminated area was 32.34 times higher than that in the clean area.

ConclusionsPM_2.5, SO₂, NO₂, PM₁₀ and other air pollution components are important factors affecting the incidence of respiratory diseases in school children. Environment protection, reducing pollutant emissions, environmental afforestation, and controlling air pollution are important to the health and growth of school children.