Izabele Juskiene1, Nina Prokopciuk2,3, Ulrich Franck4, Algirdas Valiulis5, Vaidotas Valskys6, Vitalija Mesceriakova7, Violeta Kvedariene8,9, Indre Valiulyte7,10, Edita Poluzioroviene1, Ingrida Sauliene11, Arunas Valiulis1,12. 1. Clinic of Children's Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Antakalnio Str. 57, Vilnius, LT-10207, Lithuania. 2. Clinic of Children's Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Antakalnio Str. 57, Vilnius, LT-10207, Lithuania. nina.prokopciuk@mf.vu.lt. 3. Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania. nina.prokopciuk@mf.vu.lt. 4. Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany. 5. Department of Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania. 6. Center of Life Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania. 7. Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania. 8. Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania. 9. Clinic of Chest Diseases and Allergology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania. 10. Kantonsspital Thurgau, Frauenfeld, Switzerland. 11. Siauliai Academy, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania. 12. Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Abstract
The school environment is crucial for the child's health and well-being. On the other hand, the data about the role of school's aerosol pollution on the etiology of chronic non-communicable diseases remain scarce. This study aims to evaluate the level of indoor aerosol pollution in primary schools and its relation to the incidence of doctor's diagnosed asthma among younger school-age children. The cross-sectional study was carried out in 11 primary schools of Vilnius during 1 year of education from autumn 2017 to spring 2018. Particle number (PNC) and mass (PMC) concentrations in the size range of 0.3-10 µm were measured using an Optical Particle Sizer (OPS, TSI model 3330). The annual incidence of doctor's diagnosed asthma in each school was calculated retrospectively from the data of medical records. The total number of 6-11 years old children who participated in the study was 3638. The incidence of asthma per school ranged from 1.8 to 6.0%. Mean indoor air pollution based on measurements in classrooms during the lessons was calculated for each school. Levels of PNC and PMC in schools ranged between 33.0 and 168.0 particles/cm3 and 1.7-6.8 µg/m3, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between the incidence of asthma and PNC as well as asthma and PMC in the particle size range of 0.3-1 µm (r = 0.66, p = 0.028) and (r = 0.71, p = 0.017) respectively. No significant correlation was found between asthma incidence and indoor air pollution in the particle size range of 0.3-2.5 and 0.3-10 µm. Conclusion: We concluded that the number and mass concentrations of indoor air aerosol pollution in primary schools in the particle size range of 0.3-1 µm are primarily associated with the incidence of doctor's diagnosed asthma among younger school-age children. What is Known: • Both indoor and outdoor aerosol pollution is associated with bronchial asthma in children. What is New: • The incidence of bronchial asthma among younger school age children is related to indoor air quality in primary schools. • Aerosol pollutants in the size range of 0.3-1 µm in contrast to larger size range particles can play major role in the etiology of bronchial asthma in children.
The school environment is crucial for the child's health and well-being. On the other hand, the data about the role of school's aerosol pollution on the etiology of chronic non-communicable diseases remain scarce. This study aims to evaluate the level of indoor aerosol pollution in primary schools and its relation to the incidence of doctor's diagnosed asthma among younger school-age children. The cross-sectional study was carried out in 11 primary schools of Vilnius during 1 year of education from autumn 2017 to spring 2018. Particle number (PNC) and mass (PMC) concentrations in the size range of 0.3-10 µm were measured using an Optical Particle Sizer (OPS, TSI model 3330). The annual incidence of doctor's diagnosed asthma in each school was calculated retrospectively from the data of medical records. The total number of 6-11 years old children who participated in the study was 3638. The incidence of asthma per school ranged from 1.8 to 6.0%. Mean indoor air pollution based on measurements in classrooms during the lessons was calculated for each school. Levels of PNC and PMC in schools ranged between 33.0 and 168.0 particles/cm3 and 1.7-6.8 µg/m3, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between the incidence of asthma and PNC as well as asthma and PMC in the particle size range of 0.3-1 µm (r = 0.66, p = 0.028) and (r = 0.71, p = 0.017) respectively. No significant correlation was found between asthma incidence and indoor air pollution in the particle size range of 0.3-2.5 and 0.3-10 µm. Conclusion: We concluded that the number and mass concentrations of indoor air aerosol pollution in primary schools in the particle size range of 0.3-1 µm are primarily associated with the incidence of doctor's diagnosed asthma among younger school-age children. What is Known: • Both indoor and outdoor aerosol pollution is associated with bronchial asthma in children. What is New: • The incidence of bronchial asthma among younger school age children is related to indoor air quality in primary schools. • Aerosol pollutants in the size range of 0.3-1 µm in contrast to larger size range particles can play major role in the etiology of bronchial asthma in children.
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