Air pollution control and the occurrence of acute respiratory illness in school children of Quito, Ecuador

Abstract

Because of air quality management and control, traffic-related air pollution has declined in Quito, Ecuador. We evaluated the effect of a city-wide 5-year air pollution control program on the occurrence of acute respiratory illness (ARI). We compared two studies conducted at the same location in Quito: in 2000, 2 years before the policy to control vehicle emission was introduced, and in 2007. Each study involved ~ 730 children aged 6-12 years, observed for 15 weeks. We examined associations between carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) serum concentration-an exposure proxy for carbon monoxide (CO)-ambient CO, and ARI in both cohorts. In 2007, we found a 48% reduction in the ARI incidence (RR 0.52; 95% CI 0.45-0.62, p < 0.0001), and 92% decrease in the percentage of children with COHb > 2.5% as compared to the 2000 study. We found no association between COHb concentrations above the safe level of 2.5% and the ARI incidence (p = 0.736). The decline in air pollution due to vehicle emissions control was associated with a lower incidence of respiratory illness in school children.

Asthma, rhinitis and eczema symptoms in Quito, Ecuador: a comparative cross-sectional study 16 years after ISAAC

“…Because of air quality management and control, traffic-related air pollution has declined in Quito, a decrease that has been associated with a lower incidence of respiratory illness in schoolchildren. 32 Finally, the reduction in asthma symptoms could be related to the access and effectiveness of new medications and medical care, the latter mainly represented by an increase in physicians in the country from 10 808 in 2003 to 37 293 in 2017. 33 We also identified possible risk factors for current asthma, rhinitis and eczema.…”

Effects of Air Pollution on Lung Innate Lymphoid Cells: Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Experimental Studies

“…Our findings may be useful to identify potential intervention strategies, targeting the key molecules which enhance pulmonary NK cell function to protect against infections or to control an excessive activation of ILC2, thus decreasing the production of allergy-related cytokines and minimizing airway allergic inflammation. With respect to the development of preventive strategies, a comprehensive solution against harmful effects of air pollution on the respiratory health should require the implementation of and compliance with a broad range of policies to improve air quality [70].…”

Valuing the Impact of Air Pollution in Urban Residence Using Hedonic Pricing and Geospatial Analysis, Evidence From Quito, Ecuador

“…This global reality is nothing different to Ecuador, a small developing Andean country in northwestern South America, as especially the high levels of air pollution occur in the country's biggest cities, due to their number of inhabitants, automotive fleet, and industries. Such conditions match those of one of the most polluted cities in the country, being the Metropolitan District of Quito (DMQ) (Estrella et al, 2019).…”

“…These industries include a textile, plastics, automobile assembly plants, and metal melting clustering both at the northern and southern side of the city (Chiriboga, 2009;Distrito Metropolitano de Quito, 2014). However, Estrella et al (2019) argues that it has been a reduction of air contamination due to restrictions of car traffic circulation. Furthermore, a study by the country's census National Institute of Census and Statistics (INEC) indicated that in 2010 the motorized vehicles amounted to up to 1,226,349 automobiles, while in 2015 the figure reached a total of 1,925,368 automobiles, leading to some 57% of growth of its automotive park in only 5 years (INEC, 2019).…”