Hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in children and outdoor air pollution in Southwest Milan, Italy

Acta Paediatr. 2010 Aug;99(8):1180-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2010.01786.x. Epub 2010 Mar 6.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate whether a relationship exists in hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in children with outdoor pollution in the Southwest Milan, Italy.

Methods: Daily count of hospital admissions for asthma, upper or lower respiratory diseases (LRD) occurred among children aged < or =14 years at the San Paolo Hospital during 2007-2008 was recorded. Pollutants included the particular matter of <10 microm diameter, ozone, carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), reported on the same day of admission and 1 up to 5 days before admission. The moving weekly average (MWA) was also considered.

Results: Total respiratory admissions were associated with the same day level of CO (30.6% increase per 1 mg/m(3) increase, 95% confidence interval, 3.9-69.9%) and with the MWA of NO(2) (9.0% increase per 10 microg/m(3) increase, 1.2-16.8%). The effect of CO was stronger on upper respiratory diseases (URD) (lag 0, 21.3% increase, 6.4-38.3%). The effect of NO(2) was stronger on LRD (MWA, 5.3% increase, 0.9-10.2%). Multipollutant models confirmed the role of CO on URD and that of NO(2) on LRD.

Conclusion: Carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide may be associated with emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions among children in Southwest Milan.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Air Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Air Pollution / adverse effects
  • Asthma / epidemiology
  • Asthma / etiology*
  • Carbon Monoxide / toxicity*
  • Child
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Epidemiological Monitoring
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Nitrogen Dioxide / toxicity*
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / etiology*
  • Weather

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Nitrogen Dioxide