Sunseog Kweon¹, Minho Shin¹, Haesung Nam¹, Kyeongsoo Park¹, Myungho Sohn¹, and Jin-Su Choi². (1) Department of Preventive Medicine, Seonam University Medical School, 720 Gwangchidong, Namwon, 590-711, South Korea, +82 063 620 0114, sskweonx@netian.com, (2) Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University, 5 Hakdong, Dong-Gu, Gwangju, 501-190, South Korea

Background: Allergy or allergy related diseases are generally increasing in trend while the relation to the air pollution is not clear. The comparison of various allergy related indices between children who are living adjacent to a petrochemical complex and children who are living in a rural area may provide a clue to the causal association of air pollution to the prevalence of allergy.

Methods: Three hundred and twelve schoolchildren living adjacent to a petrochemical complex in South Korea and two hundred ninety seven schoolchildren living in a rural area aged between nine to ten years who were not previously diagnosed as having asthma were selected for the study during 2001 to 2003. The methacholine challenge test (MCT) to test bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR), skin prick test (SPT), nasal eosinophil count, serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) level as well as the ISAAC questionnaires for the allergic symptoms were applied to the subject children.

Results: The prevalences of bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) and allergic rhinitis were significantly higher in children living adjacent to a petrochemical complex than in children living in a rural area. The prevalence of atopy was also higher, although not significant, in petrochemical complex area children. In multiple logistic regression analysis controlling age, sex, height, passive smoking and family history of allergic diseases, all indices showed significant differences between two groups.

Conclusion: This result suggests the air pollution may be associated with the increase of atopy, BHR and allergic rhinitis in children.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the possible hazards of petrochemical atmospheric pollution on the children's health.

Keywords: Environmental Health Hazards, Asthma

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.