The active surface of suspended particles as a predictor of lung function and pulmonary symptoms in Austrian school children

At a central elementary school in the capital of Upper Austria children aged 7-10 years underwent repeated respiratory health checkups (questionnaires, diaries, spirometry). Between March and May 2001 the daily means of the signals of a diffusion charging sensor, measuring the "active surface" of suspended particles, and a photoelectric aerosol sensor, measuring the particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, were related to spirometric results of the total 164 children examined and to the daily symptom scores of a susceptible subgroup. Significant reductions of forced vital capacity (p = 0.006) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (p = 0.001) and significant increases of wheezing (p = 0.001), shortness of breath (p = 0.041), cough in the evening (p = 0.031) and at night (p = 0.018) were found with increase of "active surface" of suspended particles measured at the adjacent outdoor monitoring station, but not with the increase of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Monitoring "active surface" of particles with diameters of about 10 nm-1 mum by means of a diffusion charging sensor might provide additional information in surveillance of particulate matter for prevention of acute effects on respiratory health. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.