Contaminant particles increase hospital admissions for children with respiratory illnesses

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-06/f-sf-cpi060115.php

Public Release: 1-Jun-2015
FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology

Particles of less than 2.5 microns emitted by vehicles have negative repercussions for bronchiolitis, pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis in children. Should their concentrations be reduced to the levels recommended by the WHO, hospital admissions of children with these illnesses would decrease, amounting to a daily saving of 200 euros ($218), according to calculations by researchers from the University of Seville for that Spanish city.

Over recent years the so-called PM2.5 particles, labelled as such as their diameter is less than 2.5 microns, have become one of the best indicators of urban pollution of anthropogenic (caused by humans) origin (they are especially emitted by diesel vehicles) and have harmful effects for health, which is made more acute by the ease at which they can enter into respiratory pathways.

In large cities such as Madrid there are already studies which link high concentrations of PM2.5 with an increase in hospital admissions. This has now been confirmed for children's respiratory illnesses in the Andalusian capital by researchers from the University of Seville.

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The results are published in the 'Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association' and show that high concentrations of PM2.5 have a negative effect on bronchiolitis, pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses in children.

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