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Ambient air pollution impairs lung development in children, particularly in industrialized areas. The air quality in Zabrze, a city located in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region of Poland, is among the worst in Europe. We compared lung function and the frequency of respiratory or allergic symptoms between children living in Zabrze and those living in Gdynia, a city on the Baltic coast, which has the best long-term air quality in Poland. We enrolled children aged 9–15 years from both cities who were able to perform a spirometry. The following spirometry variables were measured for all participants: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume during the first second of expiration (FEV1), FEV1/FVC index, and peak expiratory flow (PEF). The frequencies of respiratory or allergic symptoms were taken from a survey completed by the participants’ parents. In total, 258 children from Gdynia and 512 children from Zabrze were examined. The mean values of FVC, FEV1, and PEF were significantly greater among children in Gdynia than those reported in Zabrze (p ≤ 0.032), and the frequencies of seasonal rhinorrhea (p = 0.015) or coughing episodes (p = 0.022) were significantly higher in Zabrze than in Gdynia. In conclusion, lung function was significantly impaired in children living in Zabrze, an area which is associated with poor air quality. Strategies to improve air quality in the Silesia region are urgently needed.

Background: 69.3% of individual households in Poland produces thermal energy from coal burning (in 13.7% there are also fireplaces for wood and biomass). They are responsible for 55.8% of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emission. As mentioned by Badyda et al. Adv Exp Med Biol 2016;944:1-9 in Polish cities PM2.5 is responsible for 10-33% of cardiopulmonary mortality. Material and Methods: 500 people from a small city in the agglomeration of Warsaw were surveyed in an ongoing study on the exposure to PM2.5 from individual households. A questionnaire was conducted and selected 100 people are undergoing medical examination (spirometry test, induced sputum composition, FeNO, CO in the exhaled air, skin prick tests, total and specific IgE, hemodynamics, vascular endothelial function). Statistical analysis was completed (e.g. ANOVA, GRM, PCA). Results: PM2.5 standards in the city are not met (in 2015 were >32 μg/m3). Though only 21% of the investigated inhabitants suppose that air quality is low or very low. Significant fraction of never-smokers (56.4% of the whole examined group) demonstrate symptoms typical for people exposed to air pollutants (PM), like conjunctivitis (21.5% of the non-smokers), rhinitis (34.2%), larynx inflammation (18.1%), frequent respiratory infections (16.1%) but also breathlessness/tightness and pain behind the breastbone (14.8%). Pulmonary symptoms significantly more often occur in people with FEV1 Conclusion: Exposure to PM2.5 in never smokers may increase the prevalence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Due to the widespread use of coal and wood in households for heating purposes, Poland has one of the weakest air quality in the EU. Moreover in East-Central Europe there is still relatively little evidence on the relationship between air pollution, respiratory efficiency and the occurrence of obstructive diseases. Material: 500 people living in a small city in the Warsaw area were surveyed in the ongoing investigation focused on exposure to fine PM originating from the low-stack emission sources. A questionnaire was conducted followed by selected pulmonary, allergy and cardiology examinations (e.g. spirometry, induced sputum, FeNO, SPT, IgE, hemodynamics, vascular endothelial function). Stochastic-exploratory analysis (e.g. ANOVA, GRM or PCA) was conducted. Results: PM 2.5 concentration in the city does not meet the EU standards (in 2014 exceeded 31 ug/m 3 -the highest in the region). Though only 21% of the investigated inhabitants suppose that air quality is low or very low. Significant fraction of never-smokers (56.4% of the whole examined group) demonstrate symptoms typical for people exposed to polluted air, like conjunctivitis (21.5% of the non-smokers), rhinitis (34.2%), larynx inflammation (18.1%) but also breathlessness/tightness and pain behind the breastbone (14.8%). 16.1% of the never-smokers suffer from frequent respiratory infections. Asthma was diagnosed in 8.1%, CHD in 4.7% and COPD in 2% of the group. Conclusion: The initial results may indicate a relationship between continuous exposure to PM 2.5 and the prevalence of respiratory and circulatory systems diseases in never smokers. Ongoing research will help to verify this thesis.

Background: People living in the vicinity of roads are likely to be more exposed to adverse effects of ambient air pollution. In East-Central Europe there is relatively little evidence on the relationship between air pollution, respiratory efficiency and the occurrence of obstructive diseases. Material: 3,997 inhabitants living in proximity of 7 selected urban busy roads in Warsaw (Poland) and 988 people living in rural areas with low PM 10 concentration were investigated in 2008-2012. Pulmonary function tests (EasyOne spirometers) were completed and occurrence of respiratory system diseases, allergies, smoking, sport activities, etc. was examined. Generalized and logistic regression were used to check the association between exposure to PM 10 and respiratory efficiency. Differences in obstructive diseases incidence were assessed with ANOVA-FS test. Results: Statistically significant differences (p 1 , PEF and MEF 50 were observed between inhabitants of Warsaw and the control group. Significant association between living close to a busy road and risk of obstruction was found and was particularly high among non-smokers (4.1-times higher RR of obstruction). A 3% decrease of FEV 1 among non-smokers was associated with a 17.6 μg/m 3 increase of 5-years mean PM 10 concentration. Statistically significant differences (p Conclusion: The results prove a significant role of PM air pollution in development of diseases causing bronchial stricture. The risk of flow limitation highly depends on place of living, particularly among non-smokers.

The Polish Spirometry Day is an initiative aimed at increasing awareness of the causes, symptoms, course, and effects that accompany respiratory diseases, especially asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In 2013, the second edition of the Spirometry Day was held. It gathered 180 medical centers and other institution. The final analysis encompassed a total of 1187 persons from 26 different locations, including rural areas, and smaller and larger city agglomerations. Of this total, 755 persons (63.6 %) completed their spirometry tests for the first time in life. Each person fulfilled a questionnaire regarding the personal information, respiratory diseases, symptoms, lifestyle, and a place of residence. In the total group, 234 (19.7 %) cases of bronchial obstruction were diagnosed. A hundred and thirty four persons with obstruction, among those tested for the first time in life (17.8 %), were unaware of their disease. The lowest values of FEV1 and FEF(1)/FVC, corresponding to the highest percentage of persons with obstruction (27.9 %) were observed in small and medium cities (100,000-500,000 inhabitants). There were differences in the prevalence of obstruction depending on the distance of the place of residence from a busy traffic road. A significant decrease of both spirometric variables was observed among people living in cities above 100,000 inhabitants within a distance lower than 50 m from roads. In general, better spirometry results were observed among inhabitants living more than 150 m from main roads.

The chapter presents the results of pulmonary function tests conducted as part of the Polish Spirometry Day of 2011, an initiative aimed at increasing the awareness of causes, symptoms, and delayed effects of common respiratory diseases, in particular of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and at demonstrating the role of regular examinations, especially in higher risk groups. The results show that there was a relatively substantial group of persons, 11.2 % of the population sample studied, not being aware of a respiratory disease they had. Furthermore, the results show that quite often, 12.4–16.0 % of the population studied, obstruction was diagnosed in persons who did not have any spirometry tests done before, despite some respiratory symptoms that should raise the attention of general practitioners to perform such tests.