Saharan Dust and Childhood Respiratory Symptoms in Benin

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Sara McElroy¹  Tarik Benmarhnia²  Amato Evan²  Anna Dimitrova² 

[1] Hebert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;

关键词: dust;    African dust;    Saharan dust;    respiratory outcomes;    children under-5;    low-to-middle-income countries;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph19084743

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Mineral dust is one of the largest natural constituents of coarse particulate matter (PM₁₀). Most of these dust emissions originate from northern Africa, and several hundred tera-grams of dust are emitted annually from this region. Previous evidence has linked dust PM₁₀ to adverse respiratory outcomes in children. However, most of these studies have been from high-income countries (HICs) or examined dust from other regions of the world, mainly Asia. Evidence from low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa is scarce. Respiratory infections are one of the leading causes of under-five mortality across the globe. However, there is a poignant disparity in studies examining these outcomes in children in the region where most dust is emitted. This study linked remotely sensed satellite data to a nationally representative survey to examine acute exposure to dust in children living in Benin using a time-stratified case-crossover analysis. We identified acute effects of exposure to dust and increased risk of cough in children under five. The effect of increased risk is strongest within two weeks of exposure and dissipates by four weeks. Children living in rural areas and households with lower income had a greater risk of adverse respiratory outcomes when exposed to dust. We could elucidate the specific period and conditions of increased risk for respiratory problems in children living in Benin.

【 授权许可】

Unknown