Respiratory problems in children: industrial emissions are more dangerous than traffic emissions

In the world, more and more children are experiencing respiratory problems such as coughing, shortness of breath and asthma. Although the main objective cause of these diseases has long been identified (emissions from industry & transport), there has been no method to clearly distinguish between the two effects. This factor from which there are specific preventive measures.

Scientists at the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ) and Leipzig University conducted a study with colleagues from La Plata University.Now they can confirm that air pollution from industrial plants poses a more dangerous effect than waste from vehicles.

Recent survey on 'Gross impact of polluted gas as a risk factor in environmental-related diseases' has been conducted within the framework of cooperation between the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research ( UFZ), Leipzig University and La Plata University in Argentina, with the support of the international office of the Federal Republic of Germany Ministry of Education & Research, the results have been published in several newspapers, in There is the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Toxicology.

UFZ center researchers focus on three key analytical issues: ' First of all, we use measurement techniques to draw accurate conclusions about the actual level of air pollution. people breathe. We filter out different particle-sized materials, multi-round aromatic compounds, such as benzo pyren, adhere to these particles, and volatile organic compounds such as benzene and hexane. . Secondly, we check the toxicity levels as well as the transformative properties of these substances. We selected four areas to compare: a residential area in the adjacent vicinity of Argentina's largest refinery, a high-traffic area in the center of La Plata, a suburb. and a rural area. '

There are about 1200 babies both boys and girls aged between 6 and 12 participating in the study for two consecutive years . Their parents will fill out a questionnaire with information regarding their health manifestations, such as coughing, wheezing, pneumonia and asthma. A number of children from one of the four survey areas mentioned above were also asked to participate in the pulmonary activity test conducted by the local pediatrician involved in the project. During the test, the child was asked to breathe into the measuring device - initially breathing fast and then slowing down. This helps to check exactly how narrow and restricted the bronchial is.

Air pollution in the city of Santiago, the capital of Chile. Scientists can now confirm that air pollution from industrial plants poses a more dangerous effect than waste from vehicles. (Photo: André Künzelmann / UFZ)

When these measurements were analyzed in detail at La Plata University in late 2006, thousands of pieces of data were processed and put together. Some remarkable conclusions can be drawn from the data columns and tables. For example, different respiratory manifestations affect ¼ to 1/3 of children in industrial zones in the survey. In the suburbs and rural areas, the number of children affected is only half of that figure.Even in the city center, the percentage of children with respiratory problems is only 1% - 2% higher than the non-contaminated area. Lung activity in children in industrial zones is significantly reduced. This is a remarkably contrasting result that scientists themselves did not expect before conducting the study.

The main culprit for respiratory problems in children has been shown.'With the use of new statistical techniques, we have identified the major impact of industrial pollution pollution in all survey areas,' said Dr. Uwe Schlink, a university meteorologist. Leipzig explained. 'However, the level of pollution also varies with season, distance and weather conditions. With an average annual density of 20 micrograms of benzene in each cubic meter of air measured in the La Plata industrial area, but only 2.9 micrograms at the intersections in the city and 1.9 in the rural area, the risk Industrial waste is harmful to health and people are too obvious. '

However, research does not stop at concluding which waste is the main source of health damage. Group of scientists from Leipzig University and Argentine colleagues have been working hard to raise public awareness about the above results. They hold parent meetings at schools affiliated with the project, and lectures at La Plata University, as well as publish international announcements and lobby authorities and businesses. . ' At least we did it for children La Plata,' Andrea Müller happily announced. Chemical companies are under pressure, and now they are modernizing their factories. 'The interesting thing is to wait and see if the air pollution will decrease with the speed and how the children's health will be improved. The big question is whether the total amount of contaminated particles or the density of these particles in each cm3 of air is more important, and how we can change the climate impacts, ' physicist Ulrich Franck said. 'Anyway, we will continue to study this topic in other cities around the world.'

Journal references:
1. Wichmann et al. Lỗi làm việc làm sạch, và khi con đối số Symptoms con Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2009; 123 (3): 632 DOI: 10.1016 / j.jaci.2008.09.052
2. . Combined effects of airborne pollutants as risk factors for environmental diseases. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Toxicology, (in press)
3. Wichmann et al.Different immunomodulatory effects associated with sub-micrometer particles in ambient air from rural, urban and industrial areas.Toxicology, 2009;257 (3): 127 DOI: 10.1016 / j.tox.2008.12.024