Abstract
Adolescents are a sensitive groups to adverse synergetic effects of atmospheric pollutants in urban areas on the respiratory system.Objective:To estimate the functional status of respiratory system in adolescents from three towns in the region of Stara Zagora and the relationship with air pollution.Materials and methods: Spirometric tests were performed under the ATS/ERS Protocol among 281 eighteen years old students, allocated as follows: 129 from Stara Zagora, 115 from Kazanlak, and 37 from Chirpan.Daily mean concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5, as well as hourly mean concentrations of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, were measured.Results:The significantly lowest average values for FEV1/FVC,PEF% andFEV25-75% were found in the adolescents from Stara Zagora in comparison with these from the other two towns, regardless of the smoking status. FEV1/FVC under 70% was estimated in 3.1% of all students investigated from Stara Zagora, in 2.7% of students from Chirpan and in no one from Kazanlak.The highest concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide were measured in Stara Zagora. PM2.5concentrationsexceeding the limit value were found in 57.1% of all samples from Stara Zagora, in 50% of samples from Chirpan and in 14.3% of samples from Kazanlak.Conclusions:The atmospheric air pollutants, especially PM2.5 influence harmfully the spirometric parameters in adolescents from the region investigated.
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