Air Pollution and Health Effects in Children Residing in Akron, Ohio

摘要

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of ambient air pollutants on respiratory function, incidence, and severity of acute respiratory illness, nature of pulmonary epidemiology, and trace element accumulation, in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade children in Akron, Ohio. Air pollutants were measured at three locations and included sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), total suspended particulates (TSP) and from the Hi-Vol filters, suspended sulfates (SO4=) and suspended nitrates (NO3-). The filters and bubblers were run on a twenty-four hour daily schedule and chemical analyses were carried out by Community Health Assessment Monitoring Program (CHAMP) contractors. On the basis of available aerometric information it is concluded that SO2 in combination with NO2 is primarily responsible for the reduction in lung function tests and the exacerbations seen in the children at the Seiberling school.