Levels of PM(10) and PM(2.5) and Respiratory Health Impacts on School-Going Children in Kenya

BACKGROUND. The respiratory system of children is vulnerable to exposure to particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of less than 2.5 and 10 μm (PM(2.5) and PM(10)) or even lower. OBJECTIVE. This study assessed PM(10) and PM(2.5) levels and respiratory health impacts on children in schools located in an industrialized suburb in Kenya. METHOD. The PM(10) and PM(2.5) levels were sampled from five public primary schools in Athi River Township and a control school during the wet and dry seasons. Outdoor and classroom samples were collected concurrently on an 8-hour mean during school hours on two consecutive days in each school and analyzed using gravimetric techniques. Five hundred and seventy-eight (n = 578) pupils aged 9–14 years from these schools were also evaluated for symptoms of respiratory illnesses and lung function using a questionnaire and spirometric method, respectively, during the same periods. RESULTS. Indoor median PM(10) levels (μg/m(3)) ranged from 60.8–269.1 and 52.8–232.3 and PM(2.5) values (μg/m(3)) of 17.7–52.4 and 28.5–75.5 during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. The control classrooms had significantly (p <0.05) lower median PM(10) levels (μg/m(3)) of 5.2 and 4.2, and PM(2.5) levels (μg/m(3)) of 3.5 and 3.0 during the respective seasons. Nearly all the classrooms in Athi River schools had PM(2.5) and PM(10) median levels that exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended levels. The indoor-to-outdoor ratios varied from 0.35–1.40 and 0.80–2.40 for PM(10) and 0.30–0.80 and 0.80–1.40 for PM(2.5) during the dry and wet seasons, respectively, suggesting higher levels in the classrooms during the wet season. The relative risk (RR) and odds ratio (OR) presented higher prevalence of respiratory diseases following PM exposure in all the Athi River schools than the control during the dry and wet seasons. At 95% CI, the RR and OR showed strong associations between high PM(10) and PM(2.5) levels and lung function deficits and vice versa. The association was more prevalent during the wet season. CONCLUSIONS. The study calls for effective indoor air management programs in school environments to reduce PM exposure and respiratory health impacts. PARTICIPANT CONSENT. Obtained. ETHICS APPROVAL. The research permit and approvals were obtained from the University of Nairobi/Kenyatta National Hospital Ethics and Research Committee (KNH-UoN ERC Reference: P599/08/2016) and the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (Reference: NACOSTI/P/18/4268/25724). COMPETING INTERESTS. The authors declare no competing financial interests.