RESPOZE

RESPOZE: 
Respiratory Effects of Ozone Exposure in Greek children 

Previous research has identified the effects of air pollution (mainly particles) on health. Nevertheless, the need remains to investigate the effects of gaseous pollutants, especially ozone, in sensitive population sub-groups, such as children, based on estimates of personal exposure. 

We will explore the short, medium and long-term effects of ozone on the respiratory system of children and the possible modifying role of other environmental, socio-economic, genetic and behavioral factors. We will monitor a group of 200 school children aged 10-11 years old in Athens and Thessaloniki, sampled in a way to maximize differences in ozone exposure.

The fieldwork for each student will cover three periods, during one academic year, and include personal exposure measurements of ozone, detailed questionnaires with medical and residential history and other demographic and life style characteristics, 24-h recall diet questionnaires, time-activity diaries and measurements of spirometry, rhinomanometry in 50 children in Thessaloniki and exhaled air for determination of NO and pH in a subsample of 50 children in Athens. 

All collected data will be included in a unified database and health associations will be assessed by appropriate statistical methodology. We will provide quantitative estimates of the effects of ozone on the respiratory system of children, in a part of Europe with the highest concentration of ozone. 

Innovative hypotheses to be investigated include: the promotion of oxidative stress, the possibly protective role of anti-oxidants nutrients, and the confounding or synergistic effects of other pollutants. We will compare alternative methods for the assessment of personal exposure to ozone, that will inform future planning by providing information on the best method for large scale exposure assessment. 

This study is the first to asses ozone exposure of school children in Greece -in two cities with a population of about half of the country’s total. The results will contribute to the better understanding of the air pollution heath effects and will inform future policy making for public health protection.

The project is implemented under the Act "ARISTEIA" of the Operational Programme "Education and Lifelong Learning" and is co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund-ESF) and national funds.