Air pollution as a determinant of asthma among schoolchildren in Mohammedia, Morocco

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate whether air quality in western Morocco is truly a significant risk factor in the development and exacerbation of respiratory diseases and, in particular, asthma. The continuous measurement of the mean concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) in the air and the density of Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) for a period of four years was determined. Information on individual characteristics and indoor environments from 1318 children with an average age of 12 years was evaluated by questionnaire, completed by parents (assisted by professional investigators) and symptoms/diseases were medically diagnosed and reported. We have used the Student's t-test, Chi-square tests & odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI 95%) for estimates of the risk of asthma. The prevalence of asthma varies in a significant way according to the zone (χ² = 14.61, p < 0.05). Respiratory diseases (OR 6.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.09 – 9.64, p < 0.0001), strongly polluted zone (OR 3.62, 95% CI 1.71 – 7.81, p ≤ 0.0001) and infectious diseases (OR 3.29, 95% CI 1.99 – 5.47, p < 0.0001) are high risk factors for asthma. Air pollution is a determinant factor but is not the only factor increasing the risk of asthma in children; other factors such as respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, genetic and passive smoking present a high-risk threat.

Keywords:

• Air pollution
• sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
• Total Suspended Particulate (TSP)
• respiratory health
• children

Acknowledgements

We thank APPA (Air Pollution Association Prevention) for their gift of the measuring apparatus for air quality; the delegation of the Ministry for National Education to have facilitated installation of the apparatus and to allow us the realization of the investigation; all people having to take part in the realization of this work; and particularly the professors of the Department of Biology (FSTM). This study was supported by the Ministry for the Higher Education of Scientific Research and Management training (PARS Medicine 118) and the contract of research with the council of Mohammedia Town.