Institut für Epidemiologie (EPI)

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PATY – Pollution and the Young  (2002 - 2004):
Combined analyses of cross-sectional studies of respiratory health of children and air pollution

Study objectives:
To quantify the health risks of air pollution to children across Europe and beyond, by combining data and expertise from 12 large projects on air pollution and children's health.

Specific aims:

  • To identify vulnerable subgroups, including the improved understanding of the effect-modifying properties of atopy and socio-economic status on the relationship between air pollution and health
  • To estimate the relative importance of other important individual effects on health, including socio-economic factors and indoor air pollution.


Study design:
Combined analysis of 12 cross-sectional studies on air pollution and children’s health performed in Eastern and Western European countries, Russia, and North America.

Study population:
Approximately 60,000 children aged 6-12 years.

Study methods:

  • Questionnaire reports on respiratory symptoms and lung function parameters are the endpoints of interest
  • Particulate matter together with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are the primary exposures
  • Individual data are available from each study to control for potential confounding factors


Study period:
October 2001 - September 2004

Current status:
A common data base has been established including data on respiratory symptoms, lung function, air pollution, and confounding variables. We currently do statistical analysis and writing of manuscript.

Investigators:
Helmholtz Zentrum München - Institute of Epidemiology: Dr. Joachim Heinrich (PI).

Collaboration:

  • Public & Environmental Health Research Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK (Project coordination, www.lshtm.ac.uk/pehru/)
  • Environmental and Occupational Health Unit, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
  • Department of Epidemiology, Rome Health Authority, Italy
  • Institute of Environmental Health, University of Vienna, Austria
  • Department of Environment and Health, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Basel, Switzerland
  • Environmental Health Unit, National Centre of Hygiene, Medical Ecology & Nutrition, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Department of Health Impact Assessment, Regional Institute of Hygiene, Ostrava, Czech Republic
  • National Institute of Environmental Health, József Fodor National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
  • State Health Institute, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
  • Epidemiology Department, Institute of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, Sosnowiec, Poland
  • National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection (RIVM), The Netherlands
  • Ural Regional Centre for Environmental Epidemiology (URCEE), Yekaterinburg, Russia
  • Environmental Health Center, Moscow, Russia
  • Harvard School of Public Health, USA


Funding:
EU Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources - Key action Environment and Health (www.cordis.lu/eu/home)

Contact:
Helmholtz Zentrum München
Institute of Epidemiology
Dr. Joachim Heinrich
P.O. Box 1129
D-85758 Neuherberg
Tel. +49-(0)89-3187 4150
Fax +49-(0)89-3187 3380

Relevant publications:
Antova T, Pattenden S, Brunekreef B, Heinrich J, Rudnai P, Forastiere F, Luttmann-Gibson H, Grize L, Katsnelson B, Moshammer H, Nikiforov B, Slachtova H, Slotova K, Zlotkowska R, Fletcher T:
Exposure to indoor mould and children's respiratory health in the PATY study.
J Epidemiol Community Health 2008 Aug;62(8):708-14.
Abstract

Gehring U, Pattenden S, Slachtova H, Antova T, Braun-Fahrländer C, Fabianova E, Fletcher T, Galassi C, Hoek G, Kuzmin SV, Luttmann-Gibson H, Moshammer H, Rudnai P, Zlotkowska R, Heinrich J:
Parental education and children's respiratory and allergic symptoms in the Pollution and the Young (PATY) study.
Eur Respir J 2006; 27(1): 95-107.
Abstract

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