Unit:
Faculty of MedicineLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Konstantopoulou Sofia
Dissertation committee:
Αλεξάνδρα Σολδάτου, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπουσα
Πολυξένη Νικολοπούλου-Σταμάτη, Ομότιμη Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Χρυσάνθη Τζουμάκα-Μπακούλα, Ομότιμη Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Αλέξανδρος Παπαγιάννης, Καθηγητής, Σχολή Εφαρμοσμένων Μαθηματικών & Φυσικών Επιστημών, ΕΜΠ
Κωνσταντίνος Ελευθεριάδης, Διευθυντής Ερευνών, Δημόκριτος
Αναστασία Γαρούφη, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Σουλτάνα Σιαχανίδου, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Επίδραση της ατμοσφαιρικής ρύπανσης στην υγεία των παιδιών
Translated title:
Impact of air pollution on children's health
Summary:
Background-Objective: This survey presents the results of research on the effects of air pollution on children. The main objective of the research was to specify the impact on primary school children in the period 2014-2017 to heavy metals. We also aimed to investigate the potential association between school performances with exposure to heavy metals in children diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Methods: In the field research, we took samples of 118 children’s scalp hair (age group 6-12) from 11 schools in Athens, in order to investigate the concentrations of five toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and nickel). Also, completed questionnaires were collected on socioeconomic status, children’s respiratory symptoms, diseases, children’s birth weight, gender, sex, smoking habits, time and areas spent outdoors for activities. At the schools premises measurements were taking place which include the quantification of both PM10 and PM2.5 particles. The results concerning the intertemporal variation of the concentrations of pollutants were related with the data obtained from 5 network stations (which were located near the 11 schools premises) by the Ministry of Environment and Energy measuring air pollution in Attiki during the period 2000-2018. The Ministry of Environment and Energy classify pollution into urban, suburban and semi-urban pollution.
Results-Conclusion: The results on the concentrations of heavy metals showed exceedances of the Reference Limit Values in all areas. The most polluted were urban and semi-urban areas. Statistical differences were observed in ADHD children concerning the concentrations of nickel (Ni) in their scalp hair. These children showed higher probality (odds ratio-OR) to exceed the occupational limit values of nickel in their scalp hair.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Health effects of air pollution, Air pollution and children, Heavy metals, Children’s exposure, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Number of references:
451
