Air pollutions and the frequency of respiratory

and allergic manifestations in

megacity.1 G.P.Orlova, 2K.B. Fridman, 2 T.E.Lim, 1 S.V. Demidova.

1 Scientific Research Institute for Pulmonology I.P.Pavlov’s State

Medical University, 2 Federal State Institute of Public

Health “Centre of Saint-Petersburg hygiene and epidemiology”.

Saint-Petersburg,

Russian Federation.

Background

Airpollutants are the risk factors of pulmonary disease development.

There is no common opinion about definite pollutant priority in the development of various pulmonary diseases, which pathogenesis mechanisms differ by predominant type of inflammatory reaction (nonallergic or allergic inflammation).

Background

Chronic bronchitis (CB) primary morbidity of St-Petersburg adults has been increased steadily for the last five years.

The ratio of CB and asthma (A) common morbidity can indirectly reflect the ratio of nonallergic and allergic types of inflammatory process in lungs.

Step 1.Our previous study (2009) revealed that two thirds of St-Petersburg districts (1st group) were characterized by

prevalence of CB over A morbidity (CB/A morbidity index was above 1,3), that corresponded to the mean city value,

whereas this index was equal or less than 1,3 in other districts (2nd group) - almost equal morbidity of CB and A.

30.24

9.54

16.8

8.44

21.56 20.77

16.2715.06

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35person per 1000

in population

distr 1 distr 2 distr 3 distr 4

CB

AB

1st group

2nd group

The CB/A morbidity index was in 2003 – 2008 г. This trend was traced within last 9 years, since 1999 to

2007.

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

4

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

CB/ A morbidity distr. 1distr. 2distr. 3distr. 4

Annual concentration average of the basic polluting substances in limit permissible

concentration portions (according to socially-hygienic

monitoring)

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Двуокись азота Бенз(а)пирен Взвешенные вещества О ксид углерода Формальдегид

LPC

NOx/ NO2 benzapirene particulate matter CO formaldehyde

Step 2.Aim of the study

to analyze the influence of air pollutions on the frequency of respiratory symptoms and allergic signs in adults in St-Petersburg.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Questioned interrogation of the adult population

194 adult population in the district of 1 group 174 females, 20 males

243 adult population in the district of 2 group

202 females, 41 males

age: from 25 to 55 yrs

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The socially-hygienic monitoring data in % specimens with abnormal levels to limiting permissible concentration (LPC) of the particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx/NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon oxide (CO), hydrocarbons, phenol, formaldehyde, hydrochlorid in two regions of St-Petersburg were studied within last 7 years.

The levels of air pollution in St-Petersburg districts in LPC percentage.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

distr 1 distr 2 distr 3 distr 4

hydroclorid

NOx/ NO2 *

СО* *PM

* - p<0,05 between 1 и 2 groups

phenol

hydrocarbons

Frequency of respiratory symptoms

and allergic signs 21.3

15.8

10.2

16.5

14.4

20.3

0

5

10

15

20

25 %

respiratory symptoms respiratory symptomsand allergy

extrapulmonary allergy

1 group

2 group.

Frequency of allergic signs

14.4

20.3

2.64.1

2.1

8.1

1 2

4.7 4.9

0

5

10

15

20

25

extrpulmonaryallergy

pollinosis dermatitis eczema drug allirgy

1 district2 district

Conclusion

The ratio of CB and A common morbidity can reflect indirectly a ratio of nonallergic and allergic types of inflammatory process in lungs.

Third part of St-Petersburg districts was characterized by almost equal CB and А morbidity index while in other districts this parameter was above 1,3, that was corresponded to mean city values.

Carbon oxide and nitrogen oxides in combination with hydrochlorid, phenol assist the development of the atopic type of inflammatory process (such as asthma, allergic dermatitis, conjunctivitis, eczema), that can be caused by both the sensitizing pollutant properties and probably aggravate carbonic oxide action.