Road traffic, NO₂ exposure and respiratory function among children (VESTA study)
by Stephanie Gauvin, Saleh Amro, Denis Zmirou, Yvon Le Moullec, Fathia Sahraoui, Isabelle Pin, Francoise Neukirch, Isabelle Momas, Nathalie Lauvergne, Marie-Pierre Poilve, Mireille Chiron
International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD), Vol. 27, No. 1/2/3/4, 2001

Abstract: Within the multicentre VESTA case-control study on childhood asthma and traffic air pollution, we studied the association between the respiratory function and NO₂ personal exposures or intensity of traffic close to homes and schools. The relative contribution of different indoor and outdoor emission sources on personal NO₂ exposures was also assessed. The respiratory function (forced expiratory volume in one second - FEV1 - and peak expiratory flow rate - PEFR) was measured with a One-Flow tester R. NO₂ personal exposure was measured using passive Ogawa samplers that were worn during 48 hours by study participants, aged four to 14 years old. Exposure to traffic exhausts was assessed through an index based on a time-weighted average of traffic density to road distance ratios. The most influential variables that predicted NO₂ personal exposures were the traffic index, use of a gas cooker at home and background ambient air pollution, with variable associations across cities (model R2 rank from 0.33 to 0.67). No association was found between the respiratory function and the levels of NO₂ personal exposure; FEV1 or PEFR values, however, were associated with the traffic index, in two out of four cities. These results suggest that cumulative exposure to traffic exhausts may alter the respiratory function of children.

Online publication date: Fri, 15-Aug-2003

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com