Respiratory health among adolescents living in the Highveld Air Pollution Priority Area in South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Air pollution is a global, public health emergency. The effect of living in areas with very poor air quality on adolescents' physical health is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of adverse respiratory health outcomes among adolescents living in a known air pollution hotspot in South Africa.

Methods

Ambient air quality data from 2005 to 2019 for the two areas, Secunda and eMbalenhle, in the Highveld Air Pollution Priority Area in Mpumalanga province, South Africa were gathered and compared against national ambient air pollution standards and the World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines. In 2019, adolescents attending schools in the areas completed a self-administered questionnaire investigating individual demographics,

SUBMITTER: Millar DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9677637 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature