EFFECT OF CONCENTRATION OF SO 2 ON AVERAGE NUMBER OF MEDICAL VISITS ASTHMATIC CHILDREN ( 2006 . – 2010 . )

Introduction: The ambience of the city of Zenica, with high concentrations of pollutants in the air, as a consequence of the technological process of production of ferrous metals, causing a high risk of illness and exacerbation of respiratory diseases among residents of Zenica, especially inrisk population groups, such as children with asthma. The goal: The main objective of this work was to determine the correlation of monthly and quarterly average concentration of SO2 with the number of medical visits in asthmatic children, five-year period since 2006. by 2010. Methods: We analyze trends in average monthly and quarterly sulfur dioxide concentrations in the city of Zenica, the number of medical visits asthmatic children and asked for statistical correlation between these two health-statistics appear in the five-year period of 2006. 2010.The results: Statistical analysis shows that increased an average concentration of SO2 increased the average number of medical visits asthmatic children. Pearson correlation coefficient between the average concentration of SO2 in μg/m3 of air and the average number of visits by asthmatic children yearly quarters is 0.571, which means that there is a significant positive correlation between the average concentrations of SO2 and the average number of visits asthmatic children, but this correlation was not significant, probably due small series of patients (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Increased the average concentration of SO2 in ambient air increased the average number of medical visits asthmatic children.