About the Study

Kwinana Children's Respiratory Health Study

Children are a vulnerable population group whose developing lungs are susceptible to hazardous air pollutants from industry, traffic and passive smoking. A number of international health studies have found a clear relationship between lower lung function and more intense air pollution.

For many years there has been community concern about the potential health effects of air pollution in the Kwinana electoral district, where industry and community co-exist.

The Kwinana Childhood Respiratory Health Study measured the respiratory health (how you breathe) and lung function of children in the Kwinana electoral district whilst monitoring air quality and other factors related to respiratory health at the same time.

We are now analysing the data collected in June 2009, comparing the lung function results with other children in Perth (Caversham, Duncraig Perth CBD and Swanbourne), who were tested recently. The results of the Kwinana Childhood Respiratory Health Study will address the following questions:

• Do children in Kwinana have more respiratory (breathing) problems than children in other parts of Perth?
• Are children in Kwinana exposed to worse air quality than children in other parts of Perth?
• Is there any evidence that Kwinana air causes respiratory (breathing) problems for children living in the area?

Who was involved?

The study received a total of 591 questionnaires from school children, aged between 5 and 12 years of age, who live in the Kwinana electoral district.  The children were recruited from 10 schools in the the Kwinana area.  Parental consent was needed for all children to be included in the study.

What's next?

We are now concentrating on finalising the results from the June 2009 testing. This will provide us with sufficient information for our initial aims, that is ‘how does the respiratory health of children in Kwinana compare with the respiratory health of children elsewhere in Perth?’.