The study of indoor and outdoor-related factors that affecting the school-age children's immune function

Objective To understand the immune function of school-age children in Taiyuan City and analyze the indoor and outdoor-related factors that affecting their immune function, then to provide some references for enhancing their immune function and controlling air pollution.
Methods We selected a total of 142 pupils among 11-14 years old as subjects and investigated their general situation with a questionnaire. The cellular immune functions (CD3,CD4,CD8,CD4/CD8) were detected by flow cytometry. Humoral immune functions (IgG, IgA, IgM) were determined through immunological turbidimetry. The activity of saliva bacteriolytic enzyme was detected by Turbidimetry. The immune-related cells (white blood cell, lymphocytes,red blood cells, platelets) were analyzed by Automatic biochemical analyzer.
Results Based on multiple linear regression analysis, the factors from strong to weak correlated CD3 were condition of traffic air pollution, riding a bicycle or motorcycle to school and use of coal-fired heating stove in winter. The effect factors of CD4 were gender and condition of traffic air pollution. The factor correlated CD8 was only allergy or not. The effect factor of CD4/CD8 was condition of traffic air pollution. The factors correlated IgG was gender and methods of heating in winter. The factor correlated IgA was types of their houses. The factor correlated the saliva bacteriolytic enzyme activity was only  condition of traffic air pollution. The factor correlated white blood cells and lymphocytes was condition of traffic air pollution, too. The factors effected red blood cells were gender and condition of traffic air pollution. The factor correlated platelets were condition of traffic air pollution and allergy or not.

Conclusion The immune function of school-age children may be impacted by condition of traffic air pollution, alergy or not, ways of going to school, types of their houses and heating methods in winter. The effect of traffic air pollution is most significant.