scholarly journals Effects of air pollution on children's health in Nis and Niska Banja

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 537-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragana Nikic ◽  
Dusica Stojanovic ◽  
Maja Nikolic

Background. Epidemiological studies point out that air pollution in the cities was a major risk for health of the exposed population. In particular, the effects of air pollutants were adverse to the respiratory tract. In Nis and Niska Banja, the concentrations of pollutants were mainly below the threshold values. However, according to the literature, even these concentrations could exert negative effects, especially the health of the most sensitive group, such as the preschool children. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of the current levels of air pollutants in the city of Nis on respiratory symptoms and diseases. Methods. A pilot, cohort, retrospective study included 1 385 children of 1-5 years of age from the zones with statistically significant concentrations of air pollutants, in the period after the birth of the children. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases was determined on the basis of a modified WHO standard questionnaire completed by the parents. Results. It was revealed that in the more polluted of the studied zones, the prevalence of some respiratory symptoms (cough with cold and phlegm), and the lower respiratory tract diseases was significantly higher. Conclusion. The results of our study showed that the current concentrations of air pollutants in Nis and Niska Banja could represent the important etiological factor for the development of respiratory symptoms and diseases. Our study showed that in the children of up to 5 years of age, the frequency of respiratory symptoms and diseases was significantly higher in more polluted than in less polluted environments.

2007 ◽  
Vol 60 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 173-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Stankovic ◽  
Dragana Nikic ◽  
Maja Nikolic

Introduction. Ambient air pollution, particularly in densely populated urban areas, is a major risk factor for the health of the exposed population. The respiratory tract is the primary target for air pollutants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term exposure to air pollution and incidence of respiratory symptoms and diseases. Material and methods. Measurements of air pollutants: sulphur dioxide and soot particles, were carried out daily at the Institute of Public Health in Nis at two locations, in Nis and in Niska Banja, during the period 1999-2003. The Air Quality Index was calculated for both areas. The investigation included 654 women, nonsmokers, between 20-30 years of age, from two areas with different levels of common air pollutants. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases was determined on the basis of a modified WHO standard questionnaire completed by doctors. Results. The obtained results show that examinees from Nis had a statistically higher prevalence of some respiratory symptoms (cough with cold and phlegm) whereas women from Niska Banja had a statistically significantly higher prevalence of lower respiratory tract diseases. Conclusion. Long-term exposure to low concentrations of air pollutants is a contributing factor to the development of respiratory symptoms and diseases.


2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateus Habermann ◽  
Míriam Souza ◽  
Rogério Prado ◽  
Nelson Gouveia

Air pollution is a leading public health concern. In addition, poor populations have been reported as showing increased exposure to such pollution. The current study thus aimed to evaluate the socioeconomic status of the population exposed to vehicle-related air pollution in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The study used data from the 2010 Census on head-of-household’s mean monthly income and the percentage of households connected to the sewage system. Exposure to air pollutants was estimated according to traffic density in the census tract plus a 200m surrounding buffer. The relationship between exposure and socioeconomic variables was analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Exposure increased with increasing socioeconomic status (p < 0.001). The population with the highest socioeconomic status lives in the most polluted areas of the city. However, place of residence alone is not capable of measuring exposure. The study suggests that future epidemiological studies include other indicators of vulnerability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e238863
Author(s):  
Krishidhar Nunna ◽  
Andrea Barbara Braun

A previously healthy 37-year-old man presented with fevers and myalgias for a week with a minimal dry cough. Initial SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal testing was negative, but in light of high community prevalence, he was diagnosed with COVID-19, treated with supportive care and self-quarantined at home. Three days after resolution of all symptoms, he developed sudden onset chest pain. Chest imaging revealed a large right-sided pneumothorax and patchy subpleural ground glass opacities. IgM and IgG antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 were positive. His pneumothorax resolved after placement of a small-bore chest tube, which was removed after 2 days.This case demonstrates that patients with COVID-19 can develop a significant pulmonary complication, a large pneumothorax, despite only minimal lower respiratory tract symptoms and after resolution of the original illness. Medical professionals should consider development of a pneumothorax in patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and present with new respiratory symptoms.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 431
Author(s):  
Ayako Yoshino ◽  
Akinori Takami ◽  
Keiichiro Hara ◽  
Chiharu Nishita-Hara ◽  
Masahiko Hayashi ◽  
...  

Transboundary air pollution (TAP) and local air pollution (LAP) influence the air quality of urban areas. Fukuoka, located on the west side of Japan and affected by TAP from the Asian continent, is a unique example for understanding the contribution of LAP and TAP. Gaseous species and particulate matter (PM) were measured for approximately three weeks in Fukuoka in the winter of 2018. We classified two distinctive periods, LAP and TAP, based on wind speed. The classification was supported by variations in the concentration of gaseous species and by backward trajectories. Most air pollutants, including NOx and PM, were high in the LAP period and low in the TAP period. However, ozone was the exception. Therefore, our findings suggest that reducing local emissions is necessary. Ozone was higher in the TAP period, and the variation in ozone concentration was relatively small, indicating that ozone was produced outside of the city and transported to Fukuoka. Thus, air pollutants must also be reduced at a regional scale, including in China.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 818-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Vidale ◽  
Carlo Campana

Air pollution has a great impact on health, representing one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Previous experimental and epidemiological studies suggested the role of pollutants as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, international guidelines included specific statements regarding the contribution of particulate matter exposure to increase the risk of these events. In this review, we summarise the main evidence concerning the mechanisms involved in the processes linking air pollutants to the development of cardiovascular diseases.


Author(s):  
Luigi Attademo ◽  
Francesco Bernardini

As a global problem that has increasingly been causing worldwide concern, air pollution poses a significant and serious environmental risk to health. Risks of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as various types of cancer, have been consistently associated with the exposure to air pollutants. More recently, various studies have also shown that the central nervous system is also attacked by air pollution. Air pollution appears to be strongly associated with a higher risk of cognitive defects, neurodevelopmental (e.g., schizophrenia) and neurodegenerative (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease) disorders. Subjects with schizophrenia, as well as subjects with Alzheimer’s disease, experience a variety of neuropsychological deficits and cognitive impairments. This determines an adverse effect on social and professional functioning, and it contributes to the long-term disease burden. However, no final conclusions have been drawn on the matter of the direct relationship between schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. In recent years, the topic of urbanicity and mental health has become increasingly important. Urban exposure to environmental toxins and pollution is currently described as a reliable risk factor for schizophrenia and other psychoses, and it has been demonstrated more and more how exposure to air pollutants is associated with increased risk of dementia. Pathways by which air pollution can target and damage the brain, leading to an increased risk for developing schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease, are multiple and complex. Results from epidemiological studies suggest potential associations, but are still insufficient to confirm causality. Further studies are needed in order to verify this hypothesis. And if confirmed, the clinical implications could be of substantial relevance for both public and mental health.


Author(s):  
Janis Kleperis ◽  
Gunars Bajars ◽  
Ingrida Bremere ◽  
Martins Menniks ◽  
Arturs Viksna ◽  
...  

Air Quality in Riga and Its Improvement Options Air quality in the city of Riga is evaluated from direct monitoring results and from accounting registered air pollutants in the city. It is concluded that from all air polluting substances listed in the European Commission directives, only nitrogen dioxide NO2 and particulate matter PM10 exceed the limits. In assessing the projected measures to improve air quality in Riga, it can be concluded that the implementation of cleaner fuels and improvements in energy efficiency of household and industrial sectors will decrease particle pollution, but measures in the transport sector will also contribute to reducing air pollution from nitrogen oxides.


2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (8) ◽  
pp. 131-136
Author(s):  
V N Abrosimov ◽  
I B Ponomareva ◽  
A A Nizov ◽  
M V Solodun

One of the manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is extraesophageal symptoms, in particular, from the upper and lower respiratory tract. Gastroesophageal reflux is capable of both causing respiratory symptoms independently and aggravating the course of already existing diseases of the respiratory system. The article presents available in the literature current information on the pathogenesis of GERD respiratory symptoms, their clinical course, considerations of diagnosis and treatment.


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