Study Analyzes Impact of Air Pollution on Windsor Children

Health Canada is planning to study the effect of air pollution on the health of school children living in Windsor.

Windsor is known to have relatively high levels of air pollution compared to other Canadian cities. Located just across from Detroit, Windsor is one of the major crossing points along the Canada-U.S. border, so it receives a high volume of traffic-related pollution. In addition, both Detroit and Windsor are home to several manufacturing industries, which also release pollution into the air.

As part of Canada's Border Air Quality Strategy, the Windsor Respiratory Health Study aims to:

• Characterize the respiratory health of Windsor children; and
• Determine the likelihood of respiratory symptoms according to the children's proximity to sites generating air pollution, such as major traffic arteries.

How the Study Will Be Performed

In the first part of the study, researchers will measure lung function and lung inflammation in grade 4, 5 and 6 students. Researchers will also ask parents or guardians to complete a survey. The survey includes questions about risk factors for respiratory disease; socio-demographic and economic status; family history of lung disease; indoor exposure to allergens, irritants and microbial agents; and housing structure and function.

At the same time, air pollutant concentrations will be determined throughout Windsor. This will include measurements of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, nitrates, elemental carbon, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, particulate matter, acid vapour and ozone. In addition, residential distance from major traffic arteries will be determined.

The second part of the study will determine the health effects of daily changes in air pollution. Respiratory symptoms and lung function will be measured several times on consecutive days in each participant. Specific groups of students, including those with and without asthma, who live in areas of higher or lower air pollution, will be included in this phase of the study.