The Influence of Neighborhood Roadways on Respiratory Symptoms Among Elementary Schoolchildren

Objective: To investigate the respiratory health effects of living near roadways. Methods: We administered a questionnaire to Windsor school children. Explosure to roadways was defined as the total length of roadways within a 200 meter radius around the postal code of each household calculated using geographic information systems. Results: The adjusted odds ratios comparing the highest to the lowest exposure (roadway density) quintiles, were statistically significant for wheeze 1.23 (95% CI: 1.07 to 1.41) (P = 0.0041) and wheeze with dyspnea 1.27 (95% CI: 1.05 to 1.52) (P = 0.0125). Expressed as a continuous variable roadway density was associated with asthma, odds ratio L 08 (95% CI: 1.012 to 1.149) equivalent to an 8% relative increase in the odds of asthma for an interquartile increase (0.6 km) in roadway density. Conclusions: Residential traffic appears to adversely influence respiratory health. (J Occup Environ Med. 2009,51:654-660)