Title: The evaluation of the effect of air pollution on the health status of children in Zonguldak City, Turkey

Authors: Lokman Hakan Tecer, Nazan Tomac, Ferhat Karaca, Ayse Kaplan, Tunc Tuncer, Hamit Aydin

Addresses: Department of Environmental Engineering, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Turkey. ' Department of Pediatrics, Baskent University, Adana, Turkey. ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Fatih University, 34900, Istanbul, Turkey. ' Department of Biology, Karaelmas University, Zonguldak, Turkey. ' Department of Pediatrics, Karaelmas University, Zonguldak, Turkey. ' Department of Mining Engineering, Karaelmas University, Zonguldak, Turkey

Abstract: Air pollution affects human health, particularly sensitive groups such as children, pregnant women, elderly people and patients with chronic respiratory diseases in many ways, including reduced lung function, increased morbidity and infant mortality. Many epidemiological studies have shown positive association between respiratory health and ambient air pollution. This study tries to assess the associations between Occurrence of Respiratory Symptoms and Diseases (ORSD) and those parameters: Particulate Matter (PM), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), pollen and meteorological variables in the mining city of Zonguldak, Turkey. The finding of the study shows significant association between ORSD, and ambient level of PM, SO₂ and pollen.

Keywords: respiratory disease; children; air pollution; Zonguldak; air quality; environmental pollution; Turkey; child health; mining.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.028697

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.39 No.3/4, pp.352 - 364

Published online: 23 Sep 2009 *

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