Association between monthly-reported rhinitis by children from basic schools and monthly-averaged air pollutants, at Lisbon (Portugal)

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry Vol. 282; no. 1; pp. 15 - 20
• Main Authors: Freitas, M. C., Dionísio, I., Beasley, D. G., Almeida, S. M., Dung, H. M., Repolho, C., Pacheco, A. M. G., Caseiro, A., Pio, C. A., Alves, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-10-2009
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Children; Diagnostic Radiology; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Inorganic Chemistry; Internet; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear Physics; Physical Chemistry; Pollutants; Statistics; Traffic engineering; Traffic flow; Vehicles; Portugal; Rhinitis; Air pollution; Respiratory; Children; Chemical elements; PM; Sources
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-009-0185-5

The number of children reporting rhinitis by month is compared with air pollutant concentrations in Lisbon, where they live and attend school. INAA, ionic exchange chromatography and data accessed through the internet were statistically processed with the children rhinitis data. Association between rhinitis and atmospheric variables are processed using Spearman non-parametric statistics and principal component analysis. It is pointed out that traffic, soil resuspension from traffic, meteorological conditions, and industry air pollutants contribute to respiratory trends. Ir (Pt group), a vehicle catalyst, may have some contribution.