| Abstract [eng] |
Work justification. Air pollution by particulate matter and the associated risks are known public health issues. However, the impact of specific heavy metals transported by particulate matter and found in their natural indoor deposits – house dust – on the incidence of acute respiratory diseases in children remains underexplored. Aim and Objectives. To collect dust samples from kindergartens in Vilnius city, analyze their microelemental composition, assess heavy metal concentrations, and evaluate their relationship with the respiratory morbidity of children attending these kindergartens. Methods. Dust samples were collected from the surfaces of central heating radiators using a vacuum suction method and mechanical collection with a brush. The microelemental composition of the dust samples was analyzed using a SPECTRO XEPOS (Spectro Analytical Instruments GmbH, Germany) spectrometer, which provided the concentrations of detected microelements. Concentrations of fifteen heavy metals were measured. Morbidity rates for children in each kindergarten were calculated separately based on medical documentation. Results. Between November 2023 and January 2024, 30 dust samples from Vilnius city kindergartens were collected and analyzed. The overall incidence of influenza and pneumonia among the participating kindergarten children was 3.0% and 2.6% in 2023, compared to 5.8% and 7.1%, respectively, in 2024 (p < 0.001). A comparison of pollution data between individual kindergartens revealed significant differences in heavy metal concentrations, varying more than tenfold. A statistically significant correlation was found between tungsten concentrations in kindergarten dust and the incidence of influenza among preschool children, recurring in 2023 (rs = 0.47, p = 0.009) and 2024 (rs = 0.38, p = 0.042). When kindergartens were divided into two groups based on proximity to the city center, the most polluted Vilnius district according to external particulate matter monitors, an additional significant correlation emerged between nickel concentrations in indoor dust and the incidence of pneumonia in children. Children attending kindergartens closer to the city center suffered from pneumonia more frequently, and this association between pollution and pneumonia incidence recurred in 2023 (rs = 0.53, p = 0.03) and 2024 (rs = 0.54, p = 0.026). Conclusions. Indoor aerosol pollution with heavy metals in kindergartens is associated with children's morbidity from acute respiratory diseases. Tungsten concentration in natural dust deposits in kindergartens is associated with children's incidence of influenza, while nickel concentration is associated with the incidence of pneumonia. Dust in children's educational institutions serves as an important source for the assessment and control of long-term indoor aerosol pollution. Although the overall level of heavy metal pollution in Vilnius preschool institutions is relatively low, significant disparities between individual kindergartens underscore the importance of continuous indoor air quality monitoring and control. |
