WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE SINO-BRONCHIAL SYNDROME IN CHILDREN IN ZAGREB

This paper deals with the dependence of the chronic sino-bronchial syndrome and respiratory tract acute diseases in children and adults (age 0-19) living in Zagreb (a town with developed industry and heavy road traffic) on meteorological elements acting on man's thermal sensation. This study is based on the bioclimatic index i/H (air enthalpy and cooling power rate) and the relevant bioclimatic classification and on those meteorological elements that are included in the bioclimatic index calculation (air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and barometric pressure). A correlation analysis method has been applied on both daily data and 3-, 5- and 7-day moving average values. All analyses have been done separately for the cold and warm part of the year. The results for the cold and warm parts of the year differ. Chronic patients react earlier to meteorological strcss than acute ones. In the cold part of the year the warm periods are critical while in the warm part of the year the cold ones are critical. Along with the air tenrperature relative humidity is also significant. For acute patients periods with high relative humidity are particularly unfavourable, both in the cold and warm periods of the year, if they last at least three days. SO2 and smoke concentration in the studied period (1988-90) was within the allowed limits and their correlation with sino-bronchial diseases, chronic or acute, was not significant.