Toxicology International (Formerly Indian Journal of Toxicology)

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Effect of Air Pollutants on the Manifestation of Bronchial Reactivity in a Population Living in Proximity to a Power Plant


Affiliations
1 Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, Clinical Centre, Prishtina, Albania
2 Department of Clinical Toxicology, Hospital of Mitrovica, Mitrovicë 40000, Albania
3 Institution KFLM, Agim Ramadani, Prishtine, Albania
4 QKUK - Clinical Centre, Prishtina, Albania
5 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, Clinical Centre, Prishtina, Albania
     

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The discharge of pollutants into the air directly affects the bronchial reactivity of the population residing in the region around the power plants of Kastriot, Kosovo. Pollutants such as CO, CO2, SO2, NO2, O3, Particulate Matter (PM), free persistent radicals, toxic metals such as cadmium (K) and copper (Cu), and radioactive pollutants (for example, radioactive remains of radon (Rn)) are all discharged into the air by these power plants. In this research, parameters of lung function were determined by using body plethysmography. Resistance of the air ways (Raw), Intra-Thoracic Gas Volume (ITGV), specific airways resistance (SRaw), and specific conductance (SGaw) were measured and calculated. The study was performed with two groups, a control group consisting of 40 healthy students and an experimental group composed of 58 permanent residents of the Kastriot region. The results of the study indicated that the mean values for SRaw and SGaw were significantly affected in the experimental group (p < 0.01) relative to the control group for which the results were not significant (p > 0.1). The study confirmed that smoking aggravates the negative effects of air pollution on health (p < 0.01). The findings indicate that the situation of the population exposed to this level of air pollution is serious. Based on these findings, any further exposure to this level of air pollution represents a very high risk to the general health of this population and to their respiratory health in particular.


Keywords

Air Pollution, Kosovo, Power Plant, Respiratory Health.
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  • Effect of Air Pollutants on the Manifestation of Bronchial Reactivity in a Population Living in Proximity to a Power Plant

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Authors

Arsim Haliti
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, Clinical Centre, Prishtina, Albania
Pëllumb Islami
Department of Clinical Toxicology, Hospital of Mitrovica, Mitrovicë 40000, Albania
Lirim Mustafa
Institution KFLM, Agim Ramadani, Prishtine, Albania
Arta Dauti
QKUK - Clinical Centre, Prishtina, Albania
Adnan Bozalija
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, Clinical Centre, Prishtina, Albania
Hilmi Islami
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, Clinical Centre, Prishtina, Albania

Abstract


The discharge of pollutants into the air directly affects the bronchial reactivity of the population residing in the region around the power plants of Kastriot, Kosovo. Pollutants such as CO, CO2, SO2, NO2, O3, Particulate Matter (PM), free persistent radicals, toxic metals such as cadmium (K) and copper (Cu), and radioactive pollutants (for example, radioactive remains of radon (Rn)) are all discharged into the air by these power plants. In this research, parameters of lung function were determined by using body plethysmography. Resistance of the air ways (Raw), Intra-Thoracic Gas Volume (ITGV), specific airways resistance (SRaw), and specific conductance (SGaw) were measured and calculated. The study was performed with two groups, a control group consisting of 40 healthy students and an experimental group composed of 58 permanent residents of the Kastriot region. The results of the study indicated that the mean values for SRaw and SGaw were significantly affected in the experimental group (p < 0.01) relative to the control group for which the results were not significant (p > 0.1). The study confirmed that smoking aggravates the negative effects of air pollution on health (p < 0.01). The findings indicate that the situation of the population exposed to this level of air pollution is serious. Based on these findings, any further exposure to this level of air pollution represents a very high risk to the general health of this population and to their respiratory health in particular.


Keywords


Air Pollution, Kosovo, Power Plant, Respiratory Health.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18311/ti%2F2018%2Fv25i4%2F24137