Residential exposure to air pollution and adverse respiratory and allergic outcomes in children and adolescents living in a chipboard industrial area of Northern Italy

Abstract

Background: Chipboard production is a source of wood dust, formaldehyde, and combustion-related pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM). In this cohort study, we assessed whether exposures to NO₂, formaldehyde, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and black carbon were associated with adverse respiratory and allergic outcomes among all 7525 people aged 0-21 years residing in the Viadana district, an area in Northern Italy including the largest chipboard industrial park in the country.

Methods: Data on hospitalizations, emergency room (ER) admissions, and specialist visits in pneumology, allergology, ophthalmology, and otorhinolaryngology were obtained from the Local Health Unit. Residential air pollution concentrations in 2013 (baseline) were derived using local (Viadana II), national (EPISAT), and continental (ELAPSE) exposure models. Associations were estimated using negative binomial regression models for counts of events occurred during 2013-2017, with follow-up time as an offset term and adjustment for sex, age, nationality, and a census-block socio-economic indicator.

Results: Median annual exposures to NO₂, PM₁₀, and PM_2.5 were below the European Union annual air quality standards (40, 40, and 25 μg/m³) but above the World Health Organization 2021 air quality guideline levels (10, 15, and 5 μg/m³). Exposures to NO₂ and PM_2.5 were significantly associated with higher rates of ER pneumology admissions (13 to 30 % higher rates per interquartile range exposure differences, all p < 0.01). Higher rates of allergology and ophthalmology visits were found for participants exposed to higher pollutants' concentrations. When considering the 4-km buffer around the industries, associations with respiratory hospitalizations became significant, and associations with ER pneumology admissions, allergology and ophthalmology visits became stronger. Formaldehyde was not associated with the outcomes considered.

Conclusion: Using administrative indicators of health effects a priori attributable to air pollution, we documented the adverse impact of long-term air pollution exposure in residential areas close to the largest chipboard industries in Italy. These findings, combined with evidence from previous studies, call for an action to improve air quality through preventive measures especially targeting emissions related to the industrial activities.