Patterns of respiratory illness in Sheffield infant schoolchildren.

Abstract

An increasing volume of evidence points to atmo- spheric pollution as an important factor in the causation of respiratory illnesses. Unfortunately studies of the effects of pollution on adults tend to be complicated by smoking habits, changes of occupa- tion, changes of address, and changes in pollution levels over a period of years (Holland and Reid, 1965; Some of these complicating factors may be eliminated by careful selection of the subjects for study. Their data did not permit them to assess the rele- vance of smoking habits. Rosenbaum (1961), working with a sample of national service men, was able to correlate the incidence of respiratory disease with their home locality before call-up. He suggested that the most likely factors in the situation were a lower resistance in those from industrial areas of the GREENHILL AREA.-The two cleanest areas, Greenhill and Hemsworth (referred to as Greenhill in the Tables), were situated on the South side of Sheffield close to the Derbyshire border and subject to a prevailing wind coming across open countryside.