Traffic Air Pollution and Other Risk Factors for Respiratory Illness in Schoolchildren in the Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria
Author(s)
Mustapha, BA
Blangiardo, M
Briggs, DJ
Hansell, AL
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background: Association of childhood respiratory illness with traffic air pollution has been
investigated largely in developed but not in developing countries, where pollution levels are often
very high.
Objectives: In this study we investigated associations between respiratory health and outdoor and
indoor air pollution in schoolchildren 7–14 years of age in low socioeconomic status areas in the
Niger Delta.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 1,397 schoolchildren. Exposure to home
outdoor and indoor air pollution was assessed by self-report questionnaire. School air pollution
exposures were assessed using traffic counts, distance of schools to major streets, and particulate
matter and carbon monoxide measurements, combined using principal components analysis.
Hierarchical logistic regression was used to examine associations with reported respiratory health,
adjusting for potential confounders.
Results: Traffic disturbance at home (i.e., traffic noise and/or fumes evident inside the home
vs. none) was associated with wheeze [odds ratio (OR) = 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI),
1.28–3.64], night cough (OR = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.03–1.82), phlegm (OR = 1.49; 95% CI,
1.09–2.04), and nose symptoms (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.03–1.90), whereas school exposure to a
component variable indicating exposure to fine particles was associated with increased phlegm (OR
= 1.38; 95% CI, 1.09–1.75). Nonsignificant positive associations were found between cooking with
wood/coal (OR = 2.99; 95% CI, 0.88–10.18) or kerosene (OR = 2.83; 95% CI, 0.85–9.44) and
phlegm compared with cooking with gas.
Conclusion: Traffic pollution is associated with respiratory symptoms in schoolchildren in a
deprived area of western Africa. Associations may have been underestimated because of nondifferential
misclassification resulting from limitations in exposure measurement.
investigated largely in developed but not in developing countries, where pollution levels are often
very high.
Objectives: In this study we investigated associations between respiratory health and outdoor and
indoor air pollution in schoolchildren 7–14 years of age in low socioeconomic status areas in the
Niger Delta.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 1,397 schoolchildren. Exposure to home
outdoor and indoor air pollution was assessed by self-report questionnaire. School air pollution
exposures were assessed using traffic counts, distance of schools to major streets, and particulate
matter and carbon monoxide measurements, combined using principal components analysis.
Hierarchical logistic regression was used to examine associations with reported respiratory health,
adjusting for potential confounders.
Results: Traffic disturbance at home (i.e., traffic noise and/or fumes evident inside the home
vs. none) was associated with wheeze [odds ratio (OR) = 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI),
1.28–3.64], night cough (OR = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.03–1.82), phlegm (OR = 1.49; 95% CI,
1.09–2.04), and nose symptoms (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.03–1.90), whereas school exposure to a
component variable indicating exposure to fine particles was associated with increased phlegm (OR
= 1.38; 95% CI, 1.09–1.75). Nonsignificant positive associations were found between cooking with
wood/coal (OR = 2.99; 95% CI, 0.88–10.18) or kerosene (OR = 2.83; 95% CI, 0.85–9.44) and
phlegm compared with cooking with gas.
Conclusion: Traffic pollution is associated with respiratory symptoms in schoolchildren in a
deprived area of western Africa. Associations may have been underestimated because of nondifferential
misclassification resulting from limitations in exposure measurement.
Date Issued
2011-10-01
Date Acceptance
2011-06-30
Citation
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2011, 119 (10), pp.1478-1482
ISSN
0091-6765
Publisher
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Start Page
1478
End Page
1482
Journal / Book Title
Environmental Health Perspectives
Volume
119
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
This is an open access article, freely available at https://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1003099
Sponsor
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Grant Number
G0801056B
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Environmental Sciences
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Toxicology
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, SCI
asthma
developing country
indoor air pollution
Niger Delta
outdoor air pollution
respiratory
schoolchildren
CHILDHOOD ASTHMA
CHILDREN
SYMPTOMS
HEALTH
ANNOYANCE
EXPOSURE
VALIDITY
DISEASES
SWISS
ATOPY
Publication Status
Published