Changes in Lung Function of Children after an Air Pollution Decrease

Abstract

Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV_1.0), forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF_25–75), and maximal expiratory flow at 50% of FVC (MEF₅₀) were measured in 1,880 school children who lived in urban areas before and after a decrease of air pollution. A group of 162 children from a suburban area served as controls. In the first survey, FEV_1.0, FEF_25–75, and MEF₅₀ of children from urban areas were significantly lower, while in the second survey they were not significantly different from those of controls. The slopes over time of FEV_1.0, FEF_25–75, and MEF₅₀, adjusted for sex and anthropometric variables, were closely related to the decrease of pollutants concentration. Our results suggest that a decrease of air pollution may produce an improvement of lung function