Enfermedad y síntomas respiratorios en niños de cinco municipios carboníferos del Cesar, Colombia Translated title: PM10 exposure-related respiratory symptoms and disease in children living in and near five coal-mining areas in the Cesar department of Colombia

Abstract

Objetivos Establecer la prevalencia de síntomas respiratorios y enfermedad respiratoria en niños menores de 12 años de municipios de influencia de la zona carbonífera del departamento del Cesar y posibles factores asociados. Métodos Estudio transversal en 1 627 niños menores de 10 años habitantes de municipios carboneros del Cesar expuestos a diferentes niveles de MP10 en los años 2008-2010, en quienes se midieron enfermedades y síntomas respiratorios relacionados con exposición a PM10, buscando asociación con diferentes zonas de exposición al material particulado. Resultados Niños de corregimientos próximos a depósitos mineros y de corregimientos con tráfico tuvieron mayor proporción de casos probables de asma; mientras que los del corregimiento con tráfico se ausentaron más días por enfermedad respiratoria aguda; se encontró mayor frecuencia de síntomas respiratorios en niños expuestos al humo de cigarrillo o de leña intramurales, niños de viviendas con paredes de bareque o adobe, tenencia de animales, presencia de humedad en las viviendas, vehículos de carga a menos de 100 m de la vivienda; vivir en zonas con tráfico aumentó el riesgo de presentar síntomas respiratorios, enfermedad respiratoria aguda y ausentismo escolar. Discusión Todos los efectos estudiados estuvieron asociados a condiciones intramurales, factores del entorno cercano o individuales, coincidiendo con lo encontrado en estudios similares de salud y contaminación del aire. Se sugiere la creación de estrategias y políticas regionales para el control y monitoreo de la calidad del aire y la salud de los habitantes del departamento del Cesar.

Translated abstract

Objectives Establishing the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and disease in children aged less than 12 years-old living within the Cesar department's coal-mining area and possible associated factors. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 1,627 children aged less than 10 years-old living in and near coal-mining areas in the Cesar department who were exposed to different levels of PM10 from 2008-2010; their PM10 exposure-related symptoms and respiratory diseases were measured, seeking an association with living in areas exposed to particulate material. Results Children living in areas close to coal-mining activity which also had high traffic volume had a higher rate of probable cases of asthma; those living in areas with traffic (not no coal-mining) were absent from school for more days due to acute respiratory disease. Respiratory symptoms were most commonly found in children experiencing living conditions which exposed them to cigarette or firewood smoke indoors, living in houses made with wattle and daub or adobe walls, living where animals were kept, living in damp housing and diesel-powered dump trucks operating within 100 m or less of their housing. Living in areas having high traffic volume increased the risk of respiratory symptoms, acute respiratory disease and being absent from school. Discussion All the effects studied were associated with intramural conditions, individual factors or those associated with the immediate surroundings thereby coinciding with results found in similar studies regarding air pollution and health. It is thus suggested that regional strategies and policy be created for controlling and monitoring the air quality and health of people living in the Cesar department.