Proximity to wood factories and hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in children

BackgroundExposure to air pollutants emitted by wood industries has been associated with increased prevalence of respiratory and irritation symptoms.ObjectivesTo study whether proximity to wood industries was associated with risk of hospitalization for respiratory diseases in children.MethodsIn December 2006, the large majority of the children (3–14 years) living in the Viadana district (Northern Italy) were surveyed through a parental questionnaire (n = 3854). Hospital discharge records for respiratory diseases (2002–2006) were obtained from the local Health Unit. The children were geocoded and the distance from their home/school to the wood industries was used as exposure indicator. Poisson regression models were used to assess the association between the distance and hospitalizations.ResultsThe hospitalization rates for respiratory diseases increased with proximity to the wood industries: they were 7.55 (95% CI 5.58, 10.22) ×1000 person-year for those who lived far from any wood industry, 11.84 (95% CI 8.87, 15.81) ×1000 person-year for those < 2 km from the small wood factories and 16.61 (95% CI: 13.57, 20.33) ×1000 person-year for those living within 2 km from the two big chipboard industries.ConclusionsProximity to wood industries is associated with a higher risk of hospitalization for respiratory diseases and respiratory symptoms in children. Studies with direct measures of exposure are needed and a follow-up of exposed population is advisable.

► We considered all the children living in large wood industrial park.
► We studied whether proximity to the industries increases respiratory hospitalizations.
► Proximity to the industries increases the frequency of hospital admissions.
► Studies with direct measures of exposure are needed.