Respiratory Sympthoms in Childhood associated to a tire fire in Bogotá D. C. 2014.

Introduction: The health effects on population associated with fire outcomes has been widely recognized, especially in childhood. Between November 4th and 10th 2014, occurred a fire related with a 600.000 used tires gathered in a cellar located in the northeast of Bogotá D. C, that have generated high PM10 concentration levels (week mean: 47,7 µg/m3). The objective of this study was to know if an excess of respiratory symptoms has happened in children younger than 10 years old in the tire fire nearby area. Methodology: cohort study that compared two groups, one less exposed (Usaquen) and other more exposed (Fontibon), through a tracing of respiratory symptomatology by the application of a survey of previous prevalence respiratory symptoms and an epidemiology instrument named “Daily Symptoms” in 42 kids. The symptoms assessed were: cough, expectoration, drowning, stuffy nose, rhinorrhea, red eyes, fever and headache. Results: the survey evidenced that: “any time in life wheezing”, “night cough” and “scholar absenteeism” were slightly higher in the more exposed group, with a prevalence of 48%, 36% and 36% respectively. The “Daily Symptoms” instrument, only evidenced a symptom excess in the more exposed group for “red eyes” (RR=9,1, IC 95% 4,5 – 18,2) and “stuffy nose” (RR=1,9, IC 95% 1,4 – 2,4). Other symptoms like “wheezing” (RR=1,4 IC 95% 0,5 – 3,7) had a higher relative risk in the exposed group, but had not statistically significance. Conclusions: the direct impact of the fire in the more exposed group has been associated statistically with two symptoms: red eyes and stuffy nose. Other respiratory symptoms not associated with the tire fire, could be related with other risk factors. This results were useful for building public policies related with air pollution and health in Bogotá.