Upper Respiratory Symptoms In Children (3-12 Years Old) Exposed On Different Levels Of Ambient Particulate Matter

Objective: The aim of the study, made in the winter 2018/2019 was to determine in what extent ambient particulate matter (PM) may affect the occurrence of upper respiratory tract symptoms in children aged 3-12 years and stimulate the development and course of colds and infections. Materials and Methods: The investigation was conducted between 11.2018 and 03.2019. A standard Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey for Kid was used among 1475 parents of children from 3 to 12 years old. Simultaneously in 182 locations data on PM concentrations were collected from the State Environmental Monitoring. Parents using an online questionnaire assessed the health of children and the occurrence of colds every day around 7-8 PM. Each parent made the reported for at least 3 consecutive days (longer periods were possible). Next week, next parents reported the children9s health. A U Mann-Whitney test was used to verify statistically significant differences in symptoms occurrence depending on PM concentration. Results: The occurrence of runny nose, cough, sneezing and inhalation allergy symptoms was significantly (p<0.05) more frequent with increasing PM10 concentration. No significant differences were found in case of feeling tired, thinking problems, chills, eye discomfort, earache and stuffy ear. Similar results were found for PM2.5, however in addition differences in thinking problems proved to be significantly more often in children exposed to higher PM2.5 concentrations. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that in case of longer exposure than 3 days symptoms associated with upper respiratory tract infections begin to appear. No effects could be observed in shorter periods.