Adjusted effect estimates for sulphur dioxide (SO2) and total suspended particles (TSP) on nonallergic respiratory symptoms (as odds ratio (OR) per increments of SO2 and TSP) and lung function (as means ratios in % per decrease of SO2 and TSP) in the Bitterfeld Study (East Germany)
| Bitterfeld Study | ||
| SO2 per 100 µg·m−3 | TSP per 50 µg·m−3 | |
| Respiratory illness | ||
| Bronchitis (ever)#,¶ | 2.72 (1.74–4.23) | 3.02 (1.72–5.29) |
| Tonsillitis#,¶ | n.e. | n.e. |
| Otitis media#,¶ | 1.42 (0.94–2.15) | 1.45 (0.89–2.37) |
| Frequent colds#,§,+ | 1.81 (1.23–2.68) | 1.90 (1.17–3.09) |
| Frequent cough# | 1.10 (0.73–1.64) | 1.23 (0.82–1.84) |
| Lung function++ | ||
| FVC means ratio in % | 4.9 (0.7–9.3) | 4.7 (0.2–9.5) |
| FEV1 means ratio in % | 3.0 (−1.1–7.2) | 2.9 (−1.4–7.3) |
Data are presented as adjusted OR (95% confidence intervals)
#: adjusted for age, sex, parental education, parental atopy, use of unvented gas cookers, dampness of flat, environmental tobacco smoke, contact with cats
¶: lifetime
§: past 12 months
+: defined as >2 in the Bitterfeld Study
++: repeated lung function measurements were performed only in sixth graders. Adjustment for height, season, lung function equipment, parental education, parental atopy, environmental tobacco smoke, and sex
FVC: forced vital capacity
FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second
n.e.: not estimated
Source 15, 47