Hyung Young Kim, MD
,
Pusan National University Children's Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea
Byoung-Ju Kim, MD
,
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
Ji-Won Kwon, MD
,
Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
Ju-Hee Seo, MD
,
Department of Pediatrics, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
Eun Lee, MD
,
Department of Pediatrics, Childhood Asthma Atopy Center, Enviromental Health Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine,, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
So-Yeon Lee, MD
,
Department of Pediatrics, Hallym Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, South Korea
Song-I Yang, MD
,
Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, South Korea
Young-Ho Jung, MD
,
Department of Pediatrics, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
Hyo-Bin Kim, MD
,
Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
Ho-Jang Kwon, MD
,
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
Hee Ju Park
,
Pusan National University Children's Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea
Soo-Jong Hong, MD, PhD
,
Department of Pediatrics, Childhood Asthma Atopy Center, Environmental Health Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Background: Children are susceptible to air pollution, which is known to be related to reduced lung function and the development of asthma. Objective: This study evaluated long-term effects of air pollution on the lung development and the incidence of asthma in children.
Methods: A total of 4791 children in elementary school selected from rural areas, industrial areas, and metropolitan cities were included in a baseline survey when they were first or second year students. Individual exposure to air pollution was estimated by using a geometric information system with the 5-year mean concentration of air pollutants.
Results: Higher exposure to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particles measuring 10 µ or less (PM10) was associated with newly diagnosed asthma during a 4-year period (odds ratio [OR] = 2.00, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 1.19-3.26; OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.10-2.95; OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.23-3.38, respectively). In children with higher exposure to ozone and sulfur dioxide, lung function measured as FEV1 and FVC was significantly decreased.
Conclusion: Exposure to air pollutants was significantly associated with the development of asthma and negative effects on lung-function growth in children.
