Publication:
Allergic Diseases and Impaired Lung Function in Children Exposed and Unexposed to Artisanal Brick Production

Thumbnail Image
Files
children-13-00734.pdf(220.05 KB)
Date
2026-05-25
relationships.isAuthorOfPublication
Profile Picture
Person
relationships.isSecondaryAuthorOf
relationships.isDirectorOf
Authors
Linares Segovia, Benigno ; Bermúdez Pérez, Rocío Stephanie ; Monroy-Torres, Rebeca ; Jiménez Garza, Octavio Alejandro ; Amador Licona, Norma ; Guízar-Mendoza, Juan M. ; del Río Hidalgo, Rodrigo Francisco ; Ortega García, Juan Antonio ; Claudio, Luz
item.page.secondaryauthor
Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Medicina
item.page.director
Publisher
MDPI
publication.page.editor
publication.page.department
Cirugía, Pediatría y Obstetricia y Ginecología
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/children13060734
item.page.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Artículo Q2 sobre salud medioambiental pediátrica, vulnerabilidad infantil y exposición a contaminación atmosférica por producción artesanal de ladrillo, en colaboración internacional México–España–Mount Sinai.
Abstract
Background: During the firing stage of artisanal brick production, particulate matter and other pollutants are released into the air, to which children are particularly vulnerable. Objective: To compare the frequency of allergic diseases and impaired lung function among children exposed and unexposed to artisanal brick production. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 386 children aged 6 to 14 years, recruited from a primary and a secondary school in Guanajuato, Mexico. Participants were classified as exposed (n = 193) or unexposed (n = 193) to artisanal brick production. Once parents and children voluntarily consented to participate, study procedures were initiated. Forced spirometry and anthropometric measurements were performed, and the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire was administered. We assessed the frequency of respiratory symptoms, allergic diseases, and lung function abnormalities. We measured the frequency of respiratory symptoms, allergic diseases, and lung function abnormalities. Results: The mean age of the 386 children was 9.7 ± 1.7 years. Each group consisted of 103 girls and 90 boys. The most important risk factors for impaired lung function were living in the brickyard (OR = 6.9, 95% CI: 4.3–11.1; p = 0.001) and being male (OR = 3.6, 95% CI:2.3–5.7; p = 0.001). The prevalence of impaired lung function was 13.5% in exposed and 4.1% in unexposed children (OR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.5–8.1; p = 0.001). Most of the respiratory symptoms observed were obstructive and we found no difference in the frequency of allergic diseases, but respiratory symptoms were more frequent in exposed children. Conclusions: Respiratory symptoms and obstructive abnormalities in pulmonary function are more prevalent among children living in brickyards. Male sex and residence in the brickyard were the principal risk factors for impaired lung function.
Estudio transversal comparativo realizado en 386 escolares de 6 a 14 años en Guanajuato, México, para evaluar enfermedades alérgicas, síntomas respiratorios y función pulmonar en población infantil expuesta y no expuesta a producción artesanal de ladrillo. Los resultados muestran mayor frecuencia de síntomas respiratorios y alteraciones obstructivas de la función pulmonar en niños residentes en zonas ladrilleras. La residencia en zona ladrillera y el sexo masculino fueron los principales factores asociados con deterioro de la función pulmonar. El trabajo aporta evidencia sobre vulnerabilidad infantil, contaminación atmosférica, producción artesanal de ladrillo y necesidad de integrar evaluación respiratoria, nutricional y políticas públicas de mitigación en comunidades expuestas.
publication.page.subject
Salud infantil , Air pollution , Lung function , Asthma , Allergic diseases , Brickyards , Artisanal brick production , Pediatric environmental health , Mexico , Child vulnerability , Contaminación atmosférica , Función pulmonar , Asma , Enfermedades alérgicas , Ladrilleras , producción artesanal de ladrillo , Salud medioambiental pediátrica , Child health
Citation
Linares Segovia B, Bermúdez Pérez RS, Monroy-Torres R, Jiménez Garza OA, Amador Licona N, Guízar-Mendoza JM, del Río Hidalgo RF, Ortega García JA, Claudio L. Allergic Diseases and Impaired Lung Function in Children Exposed and Unexposed to Artisanal Brick Production. Children. 2026;13:734. doi:10.3390/children13060734.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10201/236281
item.page.embargo
Collections
Artículos
Ir a Estadísticas