Substantial decreases in air pollution levels following German reunification appear to have translated into improved respiratory health for children in East Germany.
The improvements have resulted from chemical and power plant closings, combined with conversion from brown coal to gas heat in many dwellings. Since previous studies have examined links between increases in respiratory illness and rising air pollution, researchers from the GSF–Institute of Epidemiology in Oberschleissheim attempted to determine whether decreased pollution could lead to improvements in respiratory symptoms.
They evaluated changes in the prevalence of nonasthmatic respiratory symptoms in more than 4000 schoolchildren in three East German counties in 1992-1993 and again 3 years later. During the study period, the prevalence of bronchitis decreased from 54% to 41% and otitis media was down from 31% to 26%, as were frequent colds, from 38% to 32%, and febrile infections, from 33% to 28%.
The researchers noted that . . . [Full Text of this Article]
