Yonsei Med J.  2016 May;57(3):698-713. 10.3349/ymj.2016.57.3.698.

Near-Road Exposure and Impact of Air Pollution on Allergic Diseases in Elementary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Kim HH
• Lee CS
• Yu SD
• Lee JS
• Chang JY
• Jeon JM
• Son HR
• Park CJ
• Shin DC
• Lim YW

• KMID: 2374091
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2016.57.3.698

Abstract

PURPOSE
The study aims to classify schools based on traffic pollutants and their complex sources, to assess the environment, to determine the state of allergic diseases among students using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in children (ISAAC) questionnaire, and to assess their connection to air pollutants.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of seven schools were divided into three categories according to the characteristics of their surrounding environments: three schools in traffic-related zones, two schools in complex source zones I (urban), and two schools in complex source zones II (industrial complex). ISAAC questionnaires were administered and the 4404 completed questionnaires were analyzed.
RESULTS
The frequency of asthma treatment during the past 12 months showed a significant increase (p<0.05) with exposure to NO2 [1.67, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.03-2.71] in the complex source zones. The frequency of allergic rhinitis treatment during the past 12 months increased significantly with exposure to Black Carbon (1.60, 95% CIs 1.36-1.90) (p<0.001), SO2 (1.09, 95% CIs 1.01-1.17) (p<0.05), NO2 (1.18, 95% CIs 1.07-1.30) (p<0.01) for all subjects.
CONCLUSION
In terms of supporting children's health, care, and prevention related to major spaces for children, such as school zones, spaces used in coming to and leaving school, playgrounds, and classrooms are essential to ensuring not only the safety of children from traffic accidents but also their protection from local traffic pollutants and various hazardous environmental factors.

Keyword

Allergic disease; school children; ISAAC; air pollution; traffic

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Air Pollutants/*adverse effects
Air Pollution/*adverse effects
Asthma/chemically induced/*epidemiology/*etiology
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
*Environmental Exposure
Female
Humans
Male
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/chemically induced/*epidemiology
Schools
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vehicle Emissions/analysis/toxicity
Air Pollutants
Vehicle Emissions

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The location of the target elementary school: (S1, S2, S3) traffic related zones (A), (S4, S5) complex-pollution area I (urban) (B), (S6, S7) complex-pollution area II (industrial complex) (C).

• 

  Fig. 2 Black carbon (BC) concentration (µg/m3) for all series sampling times. S1, school near to beltway (A); S2, school near to express bus terminal (B); S3, school near to passenger terminal (C); S4, school near to distribution center and with complex pollutant sources (D). S5, school near to highways and I.C and with complex pollutant sources (E); S6, school near to industrial complex (F); S7, school near to industrial complex (G).

• 

  Fig. 3 Levels of black carbon at the sampling site.

• 

  Fig. 4 The OR (95% CI) of symptomatic and treatment experiences in connection to the allergy-related diseases by group were compared based on home town zone. Asthma (A), allergic rhinitis (B), atopic dermatitis (C). OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.

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