Association of pm10 and pm2.5 exposure with respiratory health of the children living near palm oil mill, dengkil

Waste and by-products form palm oil trees are versatile and can be used as biomass fuel, but the processes of producing electricity by using low pressure boilers are causing air pollution. The objective of this study is to determine the association between PM10 and PM2.5 exposure with respiratory symptoms and lung function among children living near to palm oil mill. A cross- Sectional comparative study was carried out among school children at Dengkil and Kerling. Questionnaires adopted from ATS-DLD-78-C were distributed to the respondents’ parents. PM10 and PM2.5 was measured. Lung function of the respondents was evaluated by using Chest Graph Spirometer; results were compared with standards of lung function, by ATS (1991). There was a significant difference for Mean±SD PM10 and PM2.5 in studied and comparative area, (p<0.05). There were significant association between PM10 with wheezing and cough (PR=5.220, CI%=1.030-26.453) and (PR=3.289 CI%=1.074-10.072). The study indicates that the lung function of; FEV1 % (t=-4.54, p=0.001) and FEV1/FVC % (t=-7.00, p=0.001) were lower among studied group compared to the comparative group. Results also showed that there is a significant inverse correlation between PM2.5 and FVC% (r=-0.352, p=0.0226). The need for palm oil mill management to evaluate the effectiveness of their implemented control measure seems to be very important, as black soot emitted from boilers stack is believed to contain high level of. The high efficiency biomass boiler and the used of fabric filters should be considered if the implemented control measure is not functioning effectively.

Enfermedad meningocóccica en la Región Metropolitana de Chile y su correlación con factores ambientales / Meningococcal disease in the Metropolitan Region of Chile and its correlation with environmental factors

Introduction: Meningococcal disease (MD) is a public health problem worldwide, due to its high morbidity and mortality. Most cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is a marked seasonal pattern with predominance during the dry season. Objectives: To describe the morbidity of MD in the Metropolitan Region (MR) of Chile and explore whether there is a correlation between the number of cases with the levels of atmospheric particulate matter PM 10 and PM 2.5, relative humidity (RH), temperature and total environmental pollen. Materials and Methods: Ecological time series study, statistical analysis with R 3.0.1, graphics with Excel 2013. Results: Between 2010 and 2013, 234 MD cases were reported in the MR with an increasing trend. There is a seasonal pattern with an increase of cases from August to October, and a decrease from March to April. There is no correlation with the levels of PM10 and PM2.5. There is a slight positive correlation with RH and a slight negative correlation with temperature. There is a moderate positive correlation with the levels of total environmental pollens. Discussion: Overcrowding and the winter viral infections could explain the increased incidence of MD and the slight correlation with RH and temperature. The moderate correlation with the pollens could be explained by an effect of irritation of the upper airway. Conclusions: More epidemiological studies whose designs allow a greater causal inference are required.

Introducción: La enfermedad meningocóccica (EM) constituye un problema de salud pública mundial debido a su alta morbi-mortalidad. La mayor cantidad de casos ocurre en África subsahariana, donde existe un marcado patrón estacional en la estación seca. Objetivos: Describir la morbilidad de la EM en la Región Metropolitana (RM) de Chile y explorar si existe correlación entre el número de casos con PM 10, PM 2,5 humedad relativa (HR), temperatura y pólenes ambientales totales. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio ecológico tipo series de tiempo, análisis estadístico con R 3.0.1, gráficos con Excel 2013. Resultados: En el período 2010-2013 se notificaron 234 casos de EM en la RM, con una tendencia al alza. Se observa un patrón estacional con aumento de casos entre agosto y octubre y una disminución entre marzo y abril. No existe correlación con los niveles de PM 10 ni de PM 2,5. Se describe una correlación positiva leve con la HR y negativa leve con la temperatura. Existe correlación moderada positiva con los niveles de pólenes totales ambientales. Discusión: El hacinamiento y las infecciones virales de invierno podrían explicar el aumento de casos de EM y la correlación leve con la HR y la temperatura. La correlación moderada con los pólenes podría explicarse por un efecto de irritación de la vía aérea superior. Conclusiones: Se requieren más estudios epidemiológicos cuyos diseños permitan una mayor inferencia causal.