Effects of air pollution related respiratory symptoms in school children in industrial areas Rayong, Thailand

The chronic effects of air pollution in school children living near industrial sites were investigated. There spiratory symptoms of 806 school children aged 9-12 years were examined by the American Thoracic Society’s Division of Lung Diseases (ATS-DLD-78-C) questionnaire during February-August 2013. The selected elementary schools in this survey was based on the distance from Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, area A within 1 km., area B 5 km. and area C 10 km. Logistic regression techniques were used to assess the association between prevalence of respiratory symptoms and independent variables. The average 24 hrs PM10 and VOCs concentrations from 2011-2014 in area A were significantly higher than in area C (p<0.05). Relatively, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in area A were high with odds ratios (OR) = 3.41, (95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.70-6.85) and in area B with OR = 1.36, (95% CI = 0.54-3.45), in comparison to area C. The prevalent of non-specific respiratory diseases (NSRD) and Persistent Cough and Phlegm (PCP) in boy student were higher than girls students with OR=2.17, (95% CI=1.33-3.53), whereas those factors such as age, residential years, home size, parental smoking habits, use of air conditioners and domestic pets were not associated. Exposure to particulate matter and volatile organic compounds arising from Industrial sites was associated with worse respiratory impairments in children.