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Fine Particulate Matter in Urban Environments: A Trigger of Respiratory Symptoms in Sensitive Children

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  • Daniel Dunea

    (Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Food Science, Valahia University of Targoviste, Aleea Sinaia No.13, RO-130004 Targoviste, jud. Dambovita, Romania)

  • Stefania Iordache

    (Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Food Science, Valahia University of Targoviste, Aleea Sinaia No.13, RO-130004 Targoviste, jud. Dambovita, Romania)

  • Alin Pohoata

    (Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Valahia University of Targoviste, Bd. Unirii No.18-24, RO-130082 Targoviste, jud. Dambovita, Romania)

Abstract

The overall objective of this research was to study children’s respiratory illness levels in Targoviste (Romania) in relationship to the outdoor concentrations of airborne particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter below 2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ). We monitored and analysed the PM 2.5 concentrations according to a complex experimental protocol. The health trial was conducted over three months (October–December 2015) and required the active cooperation of the children’s parents to monitor carefully the respiratory symptoms of the child, i.e., coughing, rhinorrhoea, wheezing, and fever, as well as their outdoor program. We selected the most sensitive children ( n = 25; age: 2–10 years) with perturbed respiratory health, i.e., wheezing, asthma, and associated symptoms. The estimated average PM 2.5 doses were 0.8–14.5 µg·day −1 for weekdays, and 0.4–6.6 µg·day −1 for the weekend. The frequency and duration of the symptoms decreased with increasing age. The 4- to 5-year old children recorded the longest duration of symptoms, except for rhinorrhoea, which suggested that this age interval is the most vulnerable to exogenous trigger agents ( p < 0.01) compared to the other age groups. PM 2.5 air pollution was found to have a direct positive correlation with the number of wheezing episodes ( r = 0.87; p < 0.01) in November 2015. Monitoring of wheezing occurrences in the absence of fever can provide a reliable assessment of the air pollution effect on the exacerbation of asthma and respiratory disorders in sensitive children.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Dunea & Stefania Iordache & Alin Pohoata, 2016. "Fine Particulate Matter in Urban Environments: A Trigger of Respiratory Symptoms in Sensitive Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:12:p:1246-:d:85310
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nihit Goyal & David Canning, 2017. "Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Air Pollution in Utero as a Risk Factor for Child Stunting in Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Ji Zhou & Ruoyi Lei & Jianming Xu & Li Peng & Xiaofang Ye & Dandan Yang & Sixu Yang & Yong Yin & Renhe Zhang, 2022. "The Effects of Short-Term PM 2.5 Exposure on Pulmonary Function among Children with Asthma—A Panel Study in Shanghai, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-14, September.

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