[Air pollution and respiratory tract diseases in children].

Children are particularly susceptible for respiratory diseases, this is why studies on health effects of air pollution are often investigating children. Children have some other advantages: they do not smoke and they are not exposed to potentially noxious environment at work, also they spend their time fairly constantly in their usual environment. Studies from England and the United States show higher incidence of acute and a higher prevalence of chronic respiratory disease in children living in areas with higher concentration of air pollutants than in groups living in areas with lower concentration of pollutants. Some studies show these effects in concentration similar to those observed in swiss townships. Nevertheless specific studies in Switzerland are indicated in order to investigate the effect of the particular composition of pollutants in Switzerland and to assess effects of future possible improvements of the air quality.