Indoor Air Pollution in Primary Schools and Children’s Health in Niš (Serbia)

Maja D. Nikolić, Dragana S. Nikić, and Aleksandra M. Stanković

Department of Hygiene, Public Health Institute, School of Medicine, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia

Corresponding author: Dr. Maja Nikolić
    13–32 Nade Tomić Street
    18000 Niš, Serbia
    Telephone: +381-18-251-265
    Fax number: +381-18-258-333
    E-mail: mani@junis.ni.ac.yu

CEJOEM 2005, Vol.11. No.3.: 189–196

Key words:
Indoor air pollution, primary school, exposure, children, health

Abstract:
The objective of this study was to examine the relations between exposure to indoor air pollutants in schools and children’s health. Indoor sulphur dioxide, black smoke, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and microflora were studied over a period of six months in two primary schools of similar outdoor air pollution in Niš, Serbia. The population under study consisted of 354 schoolchildren, aged 12.96 ± 1.54 years. Information on respiratory symptoms and conditions of habitation was collected from a self-administered questionnaire completed by the parents. The main detected indoor air pollutants were sulphur dioxide and black smoke. Most frequently identified pathogenic microorganisms were E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus haemolyticus, fungi, and molds. Concerning the respiratory symptoms, there was a statistically significant difference between the exposed and non-exposed children both for upper and lower respiratory symptoms. The findings point to the need for effective measures in the prevention of indoor air pollution in Serbian schools.

Received: 30 June 2005
Accepted: 17 January 2006

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