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The Effects of Air Pollution on Health of School Children in Hong Kong

The Effects of Air Pollution on Health of School Children in Hong Kong

 

The Study
The Chinese University of Hong Kong conducted a study of the effects of air pollution on health of school children in Hong Kong during 1995-1997.
Aim:
  To study how air pollution affected the respiratory function of school children.
Result:
  2262 questionnaires were collected while 2012 children performed lung function tests.
Study Subjects:
  8-12 years old primary school students.
  Three districts were selected:
   
Shatin - a satellite town with relatively good air quality.
   
Mong Kok - a commercial area with heavy traffic.
   
Kwun Tong - an industrial area with heavy traffic.
  4 schools in each district were selected.
The number of boys and girls recruited in the study were approximately equal numbers of boys and girls completed the study
Around 70% of the study subjects were aged between 9-10.
The children in Kwun Tong had the highest risk of respiratory illness.

The children in Shatin had the best performance in lung function tests.

Method:
  Questionnaires
Lung function tests

 

Comparison of Prevalence of Respiratory Illnesses Among Different Districts

 

Respiratory symptoms Shatin Mongkok Kwun Tong
% OR % OR % OR
frequent cough for >3 months 6.4 1.0 5.1 0.78 8.8 1.59*
frequent sputum for >3 months 6.6 1.0 5.0 0.69 8.0 1.19
occasional wheeze without flu 4.9 1.0 6.0 1.36 8.8 1.98**
shortness of breath with wheeze 5.1 1.0 8.7 1.83** 14.4 3.40***
wheezing after exercise 3.3 1.0 4.7 1.58 6.3 2.18**
Respiratory illnesses            
asthma 4.1 1.0 7.1 1.88** 9.2 2.41***
bronchitis 8.4 1.0 14.6 1.87*** 11.1 1.34
illness in the past two weeks 42.0 1.0 51.4 1.34* 52.9 1.44**
bed rest >= 3 days 3.6 1.0 5.1 1.47 5.6 1.82*
  * p< 0.05
** p<0.01
*** p<0.001
OR = odds ratio (an indicator of the level of risk)

 

 Conclusions

 

Air quality could be an important factor towards health.
School children in Kwun Tong had the worst health status while those in Shatin had the best status. Improvement in air quality could lead to reduction of respiratory illnesses.