Air pollution, aeroallergens and admissions to pediatric emergency room for respiratory reasons in Turin, northwestern Italy

摘要

Background Air pollution can cause respiratory symptoms or exacerbate pre-existing respiratory diseases, especially in children. This study looked at the short-term association of air pollution concentrations with Emergency Room (ER) admissions for respiratory reasons in pediatric age (0–18 years). Methods Daily number of ER admissions in a children’s Hospital, concentrations of urban-background PM_2.5, NO₂, O₃ and total aeroallergens (Corylaceae, Cupressaceae, Gramineae, Urticaceae, Ambrosia, Betula) were collected in Turin, northwestern Italy, for the period 1/08/2008 to 31/12/2010 (883?days). The associations between exposures and ER admissions were estimated, at time lags between 0 and 5?days, using generalized linear Poisson regression models, adjusted for non-meteorological potential confounders. Results In the study period, 21,793 ER admissions were observed, mainly (81?%) for upper respiratory tract infections. Median air pollution concentrations were 22.0, 42.5, 34.1?μg/m3 for urban-background PM_2.5, NO₂, and O₃, respectively, and 2.9 grains/m3 for aeroallergens. We found that ER admissions increased by 1.3?% (95 % CI: 0.3-2.2?%) five days after a 10?μg/m3 increase in NO₂, and by 0.7?% (95 % CI: 0.1-1.2?%) one day after a 10 grains/m3 increase in aeroallergens, while they were not associated with PM_2.5 concentrations. ER admissions were negatively associated with O₃ and aeroallergen concentrations at some time lags, but these association shifted to the null when meteorological confounders were adjusted for in the models. Conclusions Overall, these findings confirm adverse short-term health effects of air pollution on the risk of ER admission in children and encourage a careful management of the urban environment to health protection.