Air Pollution and Asthma Among Children in Seoul, Korea

Background. As information about the health risks associated with air pollution has become available, attention has focused increasingly on susceptible persons such as children and persons with preexisting respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Methods. We investigated the association between outdoor air pollution and asthma attacks among children under 15 years of age in Seoul, Korea. We estimated the relative risks of hospitalization associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in pollutant concentrations and used time series analysis of the counts by means of the generalized additive Poisson model. Results. The estimated relative risk of hospitalization for asthma was 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04–1.11) for particulate matters less than or equal to 10 &mgr;m in aerodynamic diameter (IQR = 40.4 &mgr;g/m3); 1.11 (95% CI = 1.06–1.17) for sulfur dioxide (IQR = 4.4 ppb); 1.15 (95% CI = 1.10–1.20) for nitrogen dioxide (IQR = 14.6 ppb); 1.12 (95% CI = 1.07–1.16) for ozone (IQR = 21.7 ppb); and 1.16 (95% CI = 1.10–1.22) for carbon monoxide (IQR = 1.0 ppm). Conclusions. These findings support the hypothesis that air pollution at levels below the current standards of Korea is harmful to sensitive subjects such as asthmatic children.

[1]  J. Corden,et al.  Combined effects of aerobiological pollutants, chemical pollutants and meteorological conditions on asthma admissions and A & E attendances in Derbyshire UK, 1993–96. , 2000, Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

[2]  H. Inskip,et al.  Personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide and risk of airflow obstruction in asthmatic children with upper respiratory infection , 2000, Thorax.

[3]  D. Postma,et al.  Effects of ambient air pollution on upper and lower respiratory symptoms and peak expiratory flow in children , 1999, The Lancet.

[4]  J Schwartz,et al.  Urban air pollution and emergency admissions for asthma in four European cities: the APHEA Project. , 1997, Thorax.

[5]  D Krewski,et al.  The role of particulate size and chemistry in the association between summertime ambient air pollution and hospitalization for cardiorespiratory diseases. , 1997, Environmental health perspectives.

[6]  C. Scannell,et al.  Effects of ozone on normal and potentially sensitive human subjects. Part I: Airway inflammation and responsiveness to ozone in normal and asthmatic subjects. , 1997, Research report.

[7]  M Svartengren,et al.  Nitrogen dioxide exposure enhances asthmatic reaction to inhaled allergen in subjects with asthma. , 1997, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[8]  R. Burnett,et al.  Effects of air pollution on emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses in Montreal, Quebec. , 1997, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[9]  B. Ostro,et al.  Air pollution and emergency room visits for asthma in Santa Clara County, California. , 1997, Environmental health perspectives.

[10]  C. Scannell,et al.  Greater ozone-induced inflammatory responses in subjects with asthma. , 1996, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[11]  J Schwartz,et al.  Air Pollution and Hospital Admissions for Respiratory Disease , 1996, Epidemiology.

[12]  Stephen T Holgate,et al.  Community study of role of viral infections in exacerbations of asthma in 9-11 year old children , 1995, BMJ.

[13]  J. Koenig.  Effect of ozone on respiratory responses in subjects with asthma. , 1995, Environmental health perspectives.

[14]  P. Burge,et al.  Effect of domestic concentrations of nitrogen dioxide on airway responses to inhaled allergen in asthmatic patients , 1994, The Lancet.

[15]  D Krewski,et al.  Effects of low ambient levels of ozone and sulfates on the frequency of respiratory admissions to Ontario hospitals. , 1994, Environmental research.

[16]  C. Infante-Rivard,et al.  Childhood asthma and indoor environmental risk factors. , 1993, American journal of epidemiology.

[17]  W. Pierson,et al.  Particulate air pollution and hospital emergency room visits for asthma in Seattle. , 1993, The American review of respiratory disease.

[18]  W. Pierson,et al.  Response of young asthmatic patients to inhaled sulfuric acid. , 1992, The American review of respiratory disease.

[19]  S. Tarlo,et al.  Effect of low concentrations of ozone on inhaled allergen responses in asthmatic subjects , 1991, The Lancet.

[20]  J D Spengler,et al.  Effects of inhalable particles on respiratory health of children. , 1989, The American review of respiratory disease.

[21]  E. Avol,et al.  Replicated dose-response study of sulfur dioxide effects in normal, atopic, and asthmatic volunteers. , 1987, The American review of respiratory disease.

[22]  H. Akaike.  Statistical predictor identification , 1970 .

[23]  A. Bast,et al.  Oxygen radicals in lung pathology. , 1990, Free radical biology & medicine.