Effect of air pollutants on the population in northern Kosovska Mitrovica

Abstract

Objectives: Aim of this study was to analyze the level of pollutants in the air and their influence on the health of the population in northern Kosovska Mitrovica. Methods:A time series study was performed in the period 2009-2013 using data of Primary Health Care Institution in Northern Kosovska Mitrovica. Emission of soot, sulfur dioxide and azote dioxide in the air was followed and analyzed. Associations between air pollutants and daily numbers of initial visits to the Primary Health Care Institution were analyzed by using Distributed Lag Non-Linear models (DLNM) by Gasparini. Results:Significant associations were observed between respiratory diseases and increase of the concentrations of soot. The delayed effect of soot on increasing in the number of patients with respiratory diseases was the highest from the sixth to the eleventh day (RR = 1.00655 - 1.00709) in the patients up to 18 years old. There was no statistically significant impact of the pollutants on the blood system and respiratory diseases in the age over the 18. Conlusion: This study shows that soot concentrations have a significant influence on health, especially for kids.