Paulina Pino|Tomás Walter|M Oyarzún|Rodrigo Villegas|Isabelle Romieu
Fine Particulate Matter and Wheezing Illnesses in the First Year of Life
University of Chile|University of Chile|University of Chile|University of Chile|Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública
recent evidence implicates fine particulate matter pm25 principally vehicular exhaust major cause increased mortality morbidity however limited data impact pm25 infant respiratory illnesseswe conducted cohort study 504 infants recruited 4 months age primary health care units southeastern santiago chile project physicians followed infants first year life via monthly checkups appointments demand obtained data fine particulate matter sulfur dioxide so2 nitrogen dioxide no2 governmental monitoring networkthe frequent diagnosis followup wheezing bronchitis occurring 195 times per 100 infants per month adjusting sex socioeconomic level family history asthma minimum temperature number older siblings found increase 10 microgm pm25 24hour average related 5 increase 95 confidence interval 09 risk wheezing bronchitis 1day lag association present different lags maximum observed 9day lag 9 612 consistent association detected no2 so2 ambient levels lower socioeconomic status older siblings also associated risk wheezing bronchitis association pm25 wheezing bronchitis stronger among infants family history asthma among infants withoutair pollution form fine particulates mostly vehicular exhaust may adversely affect infants respiratory health potential chronic effects later life