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Ilie AMC, McCarthy N, Velasquez L, Moitra M, Eisl HM. Air pollution exposure assessment at schools and playgrounds in Williamsburg Brooklyn NYC, with a view to developing a set of policy solutions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SCIENCES 2022; 12:838-852. [PMID: 35910306 PMCID: PMC9321294 DOI: 10.1007/s13412-022-00777-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Community science offers unique opportunities for non-professional involvement of volunteers in the scientific process, not just during the data acquisition, but also in other phases, like problem definition, quality assurance, data analysis and interpretation, and the dissemination of results. Moreover, community science can be a powerful tool for public engagement and empowerment during policy formulation. This paper aims to present a pilot study on personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and raises awareness of the hazards of air pollution. As part of data acquisition conducted in 2019, high school students gathered data at their schools, schoolyards, and playgrounds using low-cost monitors AirBeam2. The data was automatically uploaded every second onto the AirCasting mobile app. Besides, a stationary network of air monitors (fixed stations) was deployed in the neighborhood to collect real-time ambient air concentrations of PM2.5. Students involved in the project attended workshops, training sessions, and researched to better understand air pollution, as part of their science class curriculum and portfolio. This air quality monitoring was incorporated into the "Our Air/Nuestro Aire" - El Puente grassroots campaign. The main goals of this campaign included sharing the data collected with the community, engaging academic partners to develop a set of policy and urban design solutions, and to be considered into a 5-point policy platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Carmen Ilie
- Center for Experimental Study of Subsurface Environmental Processes (CESEP), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401 USA
- Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367 USA
| | - Norma McCarthy
- El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice High School, Brooklyn New York City, NY 11211 USA
| | - Leslie Velasquez
- El Puente Community-based Organization, Brooklyn, New York City, NY 11211 USA
| | - Masoom Moitra
- El Puente Community-based Organization, Brooklyn, New York City, NY 11211 USA
| | - Holger Michael Eisl
- Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367 USA
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2
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Cui Y, Shi Y. Evaluation of Health Hazard and Governance Performance of Air Pollution: A Case Study of Z City. Front Public Health 2022; 10:827713. [PMID: 35548090 PMCID: PMC9082422 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.827713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on the date of the main pollutant discharge and the change of pollutant concentration in Z city, this study performed the statistical analysis of the concentration data in excel. The data covers 3 years from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017. An exposure-response relationship model was used established to evaluate the health hazards caused by air pollution and the corresponding economic losses, further analyzing the relationship between air pollution, health hazards, and economic benefits. The results of the study showed that the changes in SO2 and NO2 concentrations in Z City from 2015 to 2017 have a great influence on the mortality rate of the local population, respiratory mortality, the rate of internal medicine of outpatients, and the rate of chronic bronchitis disease. The economic losses between 2015 and 2017 caused by PM10, the primary pollutant in the air, were 3.9 billion, 3.5 billion, and 2.9 billion respectively, accounting for 3.60%, 2.88%, and 2.09% of Z City's GDP, which were enormous. Finally, countermeasures of feasible treatment and in government performance were put forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cui
- School of Management, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yunxia Shi
- School of Management, Shandong Technology and Business University, Yantai, China
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Abstract
Air pollution is now considered to be the world’s largest environmental health threat, accounting for millions of deaths globally each year. The social group that is particularly exposed to the harmful effects of air pollution is children. Their vulnerability results from higher breathing frequency and being subject to concentration peaks just above the ground. The negative effects of ambient particulate matter also depend on the time of exposure. A daily route to school can constitute an important component of children’s physical activity, but air pollution can pose a threat to their health. Numerous studies have proved that high loads of PM can be effectively reduced by vegetation. Little is known, however, on whether vegetation can also reduce PM during leaf dormancy. In this study we investigated the role of trees in air purification during the leafless period in children’s routes to selected schools located in Warsaw during winter. The results obtained show a weak impact of the tree canopy in winter.
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Wu IP, Liao SL, Lai SH, Wong KS. The Respiratory Impacts of Air Pollution in Children: Global and Domestic (Taiwan) Situation. Biomed J 2021; 45:88-94. [PMID: 34929408 PMCID: PMC9133359 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Air pollution is a global issue that threatens the health of human beings. Epidemiologic reports have shown air pollution exposures to result in millions of deaths annually. Infancy and childhood, the period of organ and lung development, is most susceptible to these environmental hazards; as a result, the risks of respiratory diseases are increased after air pollution exposure. These pollutants can originate from indoor and ambient environment, presenting as vapor or particles, and differ in chemical compositions. This review will give brief introduction to various major pollutants and their origin, as well the correlation with respiratory diseases after exposure. We will also present several current facts in domestic area (Taiwan), regarding the status of local air-pollution, and discuss its impacts on pediatric respiratory health. This report will provide useful information for clinicians and offer advice for policy makers to develop public health guidelines of pollution control and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Ping Wu
- Departments of Respiratory Therapy, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Sui-Ling Liao
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Pediatric, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan; Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Shen-Hao Lai
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Kin-Sun Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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5
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Li S, Cao S, Duan X, Zhang Y, Gong J, Xu X, Guo Q, Meng X, Bertrand M, Zhang JJ. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and Children's lung function: a dose-based association analysis. J Thorac Dis 2020; 12:6379-6395. [PMID: 33209476 PMCID: PMC7656332 DOI: 10.21037/jtd-19-crh-aq-007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background The current literature is still not consist regarding the effect of long-term exposure to PM2.5 and children’s lung function, partly due to inadequate or inaccurate exposure assessment. In this study, we aim to investigate the associations between long-term exposure to PM2.5, estimated as average daily dose (ADD), and lung function in school-age children. Methods We recruited 684 participants of 7–12 years old from the city of Lanzhou located in northwestern China. Participants underwent spirometric tests for lung function and responded to a questionnaire survey. Detailed information about individual air exposure and personal information were collected, including length of school hours, home address, age, gender, etc. Combining the spatial distribution of PM2.5 concentrations in the past 5 years and individual time-activity data, we estimated annual ADD for 5 years preceding the lung function tests and 5-year average ADD, respectively. We used multiple linear regression models to examine the associations between ADD values and lung function, controlling for a range of individual-level covariates. Results The 5-year average ADD among all the participants was 50.5 µg/kg-d, with higher values estimated for children living in the urban area than the suburban area, for boys than girls, and for children whose parents received a lower education attainment. We found that a 1 μg/kg-d increment in ADD of PM2.5 was associated with a 10.49 mL (95% CI: −20.47, −0.50) decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC) and a 7.68 mL (95% CI: −15.80, −0.44) decrease in forced exploratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). Among the annual ADDs estimated for the preceding 5 years, the immediate past year prior to lung function measurement had the greatest effect on lung function. The effect was greater in girls than in boys. We found no associations between annual exposure of PM2.5 (instead of ADD) and lung function when defined concentration was used as an exposure variable. Conclusions Long-term PM2.5 exposure, when estimated as exposure dose averaged over a year or longer, was associated with statistically significant reductions in FVC and FEV1 in children of elementary-school age. Future studies may consider the use of individual-level dose estimates (as opposed to exposure concentrations) to improve the dose-response assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Suzhen Cao
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoli Duan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqun Zhang
- Gansu Provincial Design and Research Institute of Environmental Science, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jicheng Gong
- Beijing Innovation Center for Engineering Science and Advanced Technology, State Key Joint Laboratory for Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, And Center for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyu Xu
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Guo
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Meng
- Beijing Innovation Center for Engineering Science and Advanced Technology, State Key Joint Laboratory for Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, And Center for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Mcswain Bertrand
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Junfeng Jim Zhang
- Beijing Innovation Center for Engineering Science and Advanced Technology, State Key Joint Laboratory for Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, And Center for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, China.,Nicholas School of the Environment and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, USA.,Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Dubrowski A, Kliś K, Żurawiecka M, Dereń K, Barszcz M, Nowakowski D, Wronka I. Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution in Childhood-Adolescence and Lung Function in Adulthood. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1113:19-26. [PMID: 29445995 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2018_162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of air pollution in the dwelling place during childhood-adolescence on respiratory function in early adulthood. The study was conducted in 220 female and 160 male university undergraduates in the cities of Cracow and Wroclaw in Poland and consisted of spirometry to assess lung function. The subjects' exposure to pollution during childhood-adolescence was assessed from the data acquired by the Polish Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection. We found differences in all spirometry variables depending on benz[a]piren exposure, in FVC% and FEV1/%FVC depending on PM2.5 content, and in FVC% depending on NO2 content. Statistically significant differences in spirometry variables were also found in relation to the degree of urbanization of the place of living during the early life period in question. The higher the urbanization, the higher is FEV1% and FCV%, and the lower FEV1/%FVC. Additionally, undergraduates of Cracow University had worse lung function compared to those of Wroclaw University. In conclusion, air pollution in the dwelling place during childhood-adolescence has an impact on lung function in early adulthood, independently of the current exposure to pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dubrowski
- Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - K Kliś
- Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - M Żurawiecka
- Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - K Dereń
- Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - M Barszcz
- Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - D Nowakowski
- Department of Anthropology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - I Wronka
- Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
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7
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Chen C, Li C, Li Y, Liu J, Meng C, Han J, Zhang Y, Xu D. Short-term effects of ambient air pollution exposure on lung function: A longitudinal study among healthy primary school children in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 645:1014-1020. [PMID: 30248826 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Short-term exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with reduced lung function among asthmatic children. However, there is little information about the effects among healthy children, especially in areas with relatively high exposure background. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between short-term effects of ambient air pollutants and lung function among healthy primary school-aged children in China. METHODS A total of 334 healthy children (7-11 years) from four cities (Chengdu (Southwest China), Guangzhou (Southern China), Wuhan (Central China), and Xi'an (Northwest China)) in China with repeated lung function measurement in 2014-2016 were included. Daily ambient concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, mean temperature, and relative humidity data were obtained. Linear mixed model was used to estimate the percent change in lung function associated with per inter-quartile range (IQR) exposure (up to 3 days) increase after adjusting for confounders. RESULTS Ambient PM2.5 and PM10 exposure were associated with decrements in lung function measurements. The moving average exposures generally showed stronger effect estimates than the single lag day exposures. An IQR increase in two-day average (lag01 day) PM10 exposure (IQR, 144 μg/m3) was significantly associated with 2.56% decrease in FVC, 5.46% in FEV1, 4.23% in PEF, and 7.35% in FEF25%, respectively. The effect estimates were stronger after adjusting for gaseous pollutants in particulate matter (PM) models. The strengths of these associations were stronger in girls than those in boys. CONCLUSION Short-term exposure to PM was associated with reduced lung function in healthy children. The estimated adverse effects were greater in girls than in boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- National Institute of Environmental and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Chengcheng Li
- National Institute of Environmental and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yawei Li
- National Institute of Environmental and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jingyi Liu
- National Institute of Environmental and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Congshen Meng
- National Institute of Environmental and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jingxiu Han
- National Institute of Environmental and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yawei Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Yale School of Public Health Sciences, New Haven 06511, USA
| | - Dongqun Xu
- National Institute of Environmental and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
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8
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Underhill LJ, Fabian MP, Vermeer K, Sandel M, Adamkiewicz G, Leibler JH, Levy JI. Modeling the resiliency of energy-efficient retrofits in low-income multifamily housing. INDOOR AIR 2018; 28:459-468. [PMID: 29280511 PMCID: PMC6386461 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Residential energy efficiency and ventilation retrofits (eg, building weatherization, local exhaust ventilation, HVAC filtration) can influence indoor air quality (IAQ) and occupant health, but these measures' impact varies by occupant activity. In this study, we used the multizone airflow and IAQ analysis program CONTAM to simulate the impacts of energy retrofits on indoor concentrations of PM2.5 and NO2 in a low-income multifamily housing complex in Boston, Massachusetts (USA). We evaluated the differential impact of residential activities, such as low- and high-emission cooking, cigarette smoking, and window opening, on IAQ across two seasons. We found that a comprehensive package of energy and ventilation retrofits was resilient to a range of occupant activities, while less holistic approaches without ventilation improvements led to increases in indoor PM2.5 or NO2 for some populations. In general, homes with simulated concentration increases included those with heavy cooking and no local exhaust ventilation, and smoking homes without HVAC filtration. Our analytical framework can be used to identify energy-efficient home interventions with indoor retrofit resiliency (ie, those that provide IAQ benefits regardless of occupant activity), as well as less resilient retrofits that can be coupled with behavioral interventions (eg, smoking cessation) to provide cost-effective, widespread benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Jeanne Underhill
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Maria Patricia Fabian
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kimberly Vermeer
- Urban Habitat Initiatives Inc., 328A Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116, USA
| | - Megan Sandel
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical University School of Medicine, 88 E. Newton St Vose Hall, Boston MA 02118, USA
| | - Gary Adamkiewicz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jessica H. Leibler
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jonathan Ian Levy
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Sood A, Assad NA, Barnes PJ, Churg A, Gordon SB, Harrod KS, Irshad H, Kurmi OP, Martin WJ, Meek P, Mortimer K, Noonan CW, Perez-Padilla R, Smith KR, Tesfaigzi Y, Ward T, Balmes J. ERS/ATS workshop report on respiratory health effects of household air pollution. Eur Respir J 2018; 51:51/1/1700698. [PMID: 29301918 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00698-2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuel combustion affects almost half of the world population. Adverse respiratory outcomes such as respiratory infections, impaired lung growth and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been linked to HAP exposure. Solid fuel smoke is a heterogeneous mixture of various gases and particulates. Cell culture and animal studies with controlled exposure conditions and genetic homogeneity provide important insights into HAP mechanisms. Impaired bacterial phagocytosis in exposed human alveolar macrophages possibly mediates several HAP-related health effects. Lung pathological findings in HAP-exposed individuals demonstrate greater small airways fibrosis and less emphysema compared with cigarette smokers. Field studies using questionnaires, air pollution monitoring and/or biomarkers are needed to better establish human risks. Some, but not all, studies suggest that improving cookstove efficiency or venting emissions may be associated with reduced respiratory symptoms, lung function decline in women and severe pneumonia in children. Current studies focus on fuel switching, stove technology replacements or upgrades and air filter devices. Several governments have initiated major programmes to accelerate the upgrade from solid fuels to clean fuels, particularly liquid petroleum gas, which provides research opportunities for the respiratory health community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshay Sood
- University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Nour A Assad
- University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Peter J Barnes
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Churg
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Kevin S Harrod
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hammad Irshad
- Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | | | | | - Paula Meek
- University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kirk R Smith
- University of California School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Tony Ward
- University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - John Balmes
- University of California School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA, USA.,University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution on Lung Function in Children. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2017; 17:41. [PMID: 28551888 PMCID: PMC5446841 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-017-0709-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Lung function in early life has been shown to be an important predictor for peak lung function in adults and later decline. Reduced lung function per se is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. With this review, we aim to summarize the current epidemiological evidence on the effect of traffic-related air pollution on lung function in children and adolescents. We focus in particular on time windows of exposure, small airway involvement, and vulnerable sub-groups in the population. Findings from studies published to date support the notion that exposure over the entire childhood age range seems to be of importance for lung function development. We could not find any conclusive data to support evidence of sup-group effects considering gender, sensitization status, and asthma status, although a possibly stronger effect may be present for children with asthma. The long-term effects into adulthood of exposure to air pollution during childhood remains unknown, but current studies suggest that these deficits may be propagated into later life. In addition, further research on the effect of exposure on small airway function is warranted.
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11
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Lin WW, Chen ZX, Kong ML, Xie YQ, Zeng XW. Air Pollution and Children's Health in Chinese. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 1017:153-180. [PMID: 29177962 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-5657-4_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Children can be considered as a high-risk population to environmental stress since some of the organ systems including the immune system and respiratory system are still in development during childhood. During childhood, the impact of environmental pollutants exposure may program child growth and development that have long-term consequences on later health and disease risk. Considering the rapid economic growth in recent decades in China, the impact of ambient air pollution on children health causes concerns. Therefore, we aimed to review the current epidemiological evidence on the effects of air pollution exposure on adverse health outcome, including respiratory diseases, lung function, high blood pressure, cognitive disorder, and obesity in childhood in China. We believe that the findings summarized in our review demonstrate an unequivocal relationship between air pollutants exposure and Chinese children health and these results have large public health influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Wei Lin
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Zan-Xiong Chen
- Maternal and Children's Health Hospital of Maoming City, 192, Renmin South Road, Maonan District, Maoming, Guangdong Province, 525000, China
| | - Min-Li Kong
- Maternal and Children's Health Hospital of Maoming City, 192, Renmin South Road, Maonan District, Maoming, Guangdong Province, 525000, China
| | - Yan-Qi Xie
- Maternal and Children's Health Hospital of Maoming City, 192, Renmin South Road, Maonan District, Maoming, Guangdong Province, 525000, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Zeng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
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12
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Zwozdziak A, Sówka I, Willak-Janc E, Zwozdziak J, Kwiecińska K, Balińska-Miśkiewicz W. Influence of PM 1 and PM 2.5 on lung function parameters in healthy schoolchildren-a panel study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:23892-23901. [PMID: 27628915 PMCID: PMC5110587 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7605-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate lung function responses to short-term indoor PM1 and PM2.5 concentrations, we conducted a panel study of healthy schoolchildren aged 13-14 years. The following lung function parameters FVC, FEV1, PEF, and mid expiratory flows MEF25, MEF50, and MEF75 were measured in 141 schoolchildren of the secondary school in Wroclaw, Poland in years 2009-2010. On days when spirometry tests were conducted, simultaneously, PM1 and PM2.5 samples were collected inside the school premises. Information about differentiating factors for children including smoking parents, sex, living close to busy streets, dust, mold, and pollen allergies were collected by means of questionnaires. To account for repeated measurements, the method of generalized estimating equations (GEE) was used. The GEE models for the entire group of children revealed the adverse effects (p < 0.05) of PM1 and PM2.5. Small differences in effects estimates per interquartile range (IQR) of PM1 and PM2.5 on MEF25 (5.1 and 4.8 %), MEF50 (3.7 and 3.9 %), MEF75 (3.5 and 3.6 %) and FEV1 (1.3 and 1.0 %) imply that PM1 was likely the component of PM2.5 that might have a principal health effect on these lung function parameters. However, the reduction of FVC and PEF per IQR for PM2.5 (2.1 and 5.2 %, respectively) was higher than for PM1 (1.0 and 4.4 %, respectively). Adjustment for potential confounders did not change the unadjusted analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Zwozdziak
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - I Sówka
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - E Willak-Janc
- Department of Paediatrics, Allergology and Cardiology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, ul. Chałubińskiego 2a, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - J Zwozdziak
- Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - K Kwiecińska
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - W Balińska-Miśkiewicz
- Department of Paediatrics, Allergology and Cardiology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, ul. Chałubińskiego 2a, Wroclaw, Poland.
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13
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Kouzouna A, Gilchrist FJ, Ball V, Kyriacou T, Henderson J, Pandyan AD, Lenney W. A systematic review of early life factors which adversely affect subsequent lung function. Paediatr Respir Rev 2016; 20:67-75. [PMID: 27197758 DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2016.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
It has been known for many years that multiple early life factors can adversely affect lung function and future respiratory health. This is the first systematic review to attempt to analyse all these factors simultaneously. We adhered to strict a priori criteria for inclusion and exclusion of studies. The initial search yielded 29,351 citations of which 208 articles were reviewed in full and 25 were included in the review. This included 6 birth cohorts and 19 longitudinal population studies. The 25 studies reported the effect of 74 childhood factors (on their own or in combinations with other factors) on subsequent lung function reported as percent predicted forced expiration in one second (FEV1). The childhood factors that were associated with a significant reduction in future FEV1 could be grouped as: early infection, bronchial hyper-reactivity (BHR) / airway lability, a diagnosis of asthma, wheeze, family history of atopy or asthma, respiratory symptoms and prematurity / low birth weight. A complete mathematical model will only be possible if the raw data from all previous studies is made available. This highlights the need for increased cooperation between researchers and the need for international consensus about the outcome measures for future longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kouzouna
- Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK; School of Health Rehabilitation, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
| | - F J Gilchrist
- Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK; Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke on Trent, Newcastle Road, ST4 6QG
| | - V Ball
- School of Health Rehabilitation, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
| | - T Kyriacou
- School of Computing, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
| | - J Henderson
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - A D Pandyan
- Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK; School of Health Rehabilitation, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
| | - W Lenney
- Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK; Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke on Trent, Newcastle Road, ST4 6QG.
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14
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Heinzerling AP, Guarnieri MJ, Mann JK, Diaz JV, Thompson LM, Diaz A, Bruce NG, Smith KR, Balmes JR. Lung function in woodsmoke-exposed Guatemalan children following a chimney stove intervention. Thorax 2016; 71:421-8. [PMID: 26966237 PMCID: PMC10666195 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-207783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuel combustion is a major contributor to the global burden of disease, with considerable impact from respiratory infections in children. The impact of HAP on lung function is unknown. OBJECTIVES The Childhood Exposure to Respirable Particulate Matter (CRECER) prospective cohort study followed Guatemalan children who participated in the Randomised Exposure Study of Pollution Indoors and Respiratory Effects (RESPIRE) trial of a chimney stove intervention to determine the effect of early childhood HAP exposure on growth of lung function. METHODS RESPIRE households with pregnant women or infant children were randomised to receive a chimney stove at the beginning or at the end of the 18-month trial. During CRECER, a subset of these children, as well as children from households with newly installed stoves, were followed with spirometry beginning at age 5. Biomass smoke exposure was measured using personal carbon monoxide tubes. Two-stage regression models were employed to analyse associations with lung function growth. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Longitudinal peak expiratory flow (PEF) and FEV1 data were available for 443 and 437 children, respectively, aged 5-8 (mean follow-up 1.3 years). Decreases in PEF growth of 173 mL/min/year (95% CI -341 to -7) and FEV1 of 44 mL/year (95% CI -91 to 4) were observed with stove installation at 18 months compared with stove installation at birth in analyses adjusted for multiple covariates. No statistically significant associations were observed between personal HAP exposure and lung function. CONCLUSIONS A significant decrease in PEF growth and a large non-significant decrease in FEV1 growth were observed with later stove installation. Additional studies including longer follow-up and cleaner stoves or fuels are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy P Heinzerling
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michael J Guarnieri
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jennifer K Mann
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Janet V Diaz
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Lisa M Thompson
- School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Anaite Diaz
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Nigel G Bruce
- Department of Public Health and Policy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Kirk R Smith
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - John R Balmes
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
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15
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Frischer T. [Effects of outdoor pollutants on the respiratory health of children]. Wien Med Wochenschr 2015; 165:343-6. [PMID: 26335772 DOI: 10.1007/s10354-015-0380-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The exposure against common air pollutants such as NO2, PM10 and SO2 has decreased in the last decades due to efforts of the EC to reduce emissions of industrial or traffic related origins. However, ozone exposure demonstrates an upward trend. New epidemiologic studies use geographical information systems for a more precise special and temporal categorisation of exposure. They show adverse effects of ultrafine particles as well as elemental carbon on the respiratory system of children. Children growing up next to busy traffic routes are most affected. Adverse effects include respiratory symptoms as well as a delay in lung growth. Intrauterine exposure against PM10 seems to effect lung function in newborns. There is a lack of data about other organic substances widely used in synthetic materials in the outdoor air such as phthalates or bisphenols, some studies show detrimental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Frischer
- Abteilung für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Wilhelminenspital, Montleartstr. 37, 1160, Wien, Österreich.
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Abstract
In this review, we discuss the impact of environmental tobacco smoke and particulate and gaseous air pollutants derived from fossil fuel combustion on a particularly vulnerable population, infants and children. Indoor and outdoor air pollutants exacerbate chronic respiratory diseases and lower respiratory tract infections. However, there is an even more alarming impact of antenatal air pollution exposures. There are several reports in rodents and monkeys that maternal exposure to tobacco smoke or fossil fuel-generated air pollutants causes in utero growth retardation, lung remodeling, and immune cell activation which increase the risk for asthma or the risk of morbidity with respiratory infections. Importantly, epidemiologic studies confirm that maternal exposure to air pollutants decreases lung function in infants and children which may persist to young adulthood. Thus, environmental air pollutants contribute to childhood origins of chronic obstructive lung disease by changing the capacity for normal lung development and repair, by promoting early lung inflammation which increases the susceptibility to pollution-triggered symptomatic lung disease in adulthood, and by limiting the capacity for later adaptive/repair responses to environmental and infectious insults.
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Nakhlé MM, Farah W, Ziadé N, Abboud M, Salameh D, Annesi-Maesano I. Short-term relationships between emergency hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and fine particulate air pollution in Beirut, Lebanon. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2015; 187:196. [PMID: 25792024 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-015-4409-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
High levels of major outdoor air pollutants have been documented in Lebanon, but their health effects remain unknown. The Beirut Air Pollution and Health Effects study aimed to determine the relationship between short-term variations in ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and emergency hospital admissions in the city of Beirut, and whether susceptible groups are more greatly affected. An autoregressive Poisson model was used to evaluate the association between daily concentrations of particulate matter and respiratory and cardiovascular emergency hospital admissions after controlling for confounders. All variables were measured during 1 year from January 2012 to December 2012. Relative risks of admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases were calculated for an increase in 10 μg.m(-3) of pollutant concentrations. Total respiratory admissions were significantly associated with the levels of PM10 (1.012 [95% CI 1.004-1.02]) per 10 μg.m(-3) rise in daily mean pollutant concentration for PM10 and 1.016 [95% CI 1.000-1.032] for PM2.5 on the same day. With regard to susceptible groups, total respiratory admissions were associated with PM2.5 and PM10 within the same day in children (relative risk (RR), 1.013 and 1.014; 95% confidence interval, 0.985-1.042 and 1.000-1.029 for PM2.5 and PM10, respectively). Moreover, a nearly significant association was found between particles and total circulatory admissions for adults and elderly groups in the same day. These results are similar to other international studies. Therefore, air pollution control is expected to reduce the number of admissions of these diseases in Lebanon.
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Chen CH, Chan CC, Chen BY, Cheng TJ, Leon Guo Y. Effects of particulate air pollution and ozone on lung function in non-asthmatic children. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2015; 137:40-8. [PMID: 25486544 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/27/2014] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Information on the long-term effects of different air pollutant levels on lung function is relatively lacking in Asia and still inconclusive in the world. Age differential effects of air pollution are not known. OBJECTIVES To assess the acute and subchronic effects of ambient air pollution on lung function and compared among children of different ages. METHODS From April to May 2011, a nationwide study was conducted on schoolchildren aged 6-15 years in 44 schools of 24 districts in Taiwan. Spirograms were obtained from 1494 non-asthmatic children. Air pollution data were retrieved from air monitoring stations within one kilometre of the schools. Using three-level hierarchical linear models, individual lung function was fitted to air pollution, with adjustments for demographics, indoor exposures, outdoor activity, and districts. RESULTS Lung function changes per inter-quartile increase of the past two-months average levels of particulate matter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) and ozone (12 μg/m(3), 32-44 and 6.7 ppb, 32-38, respectively) were -103 and -142 ml on FVC, -86 and -131 on FEV1, and -102 and -188 ml/s on MMEF, respectively. Lag-1-day ozone exposure was associated with decreased MMEF. In children aged 6-10, PM2.5 was associated with decreased FEV1/FVC and MMEF/FVC ratios. CONCLUSIONS In children aged 6-15 years, sub-chronic exposure to ambient PM2.5 and ozone leads to reduced lung capacity, whereas acute exposure to ozone decreases mid-expiratory flow. In children aged 6-10 years, additional airway obstructive patterns in lung function may be associated with PM2.5 exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Hsien Chen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Chuan Chan
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Yu Chen
- Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Tsun-Jen Cheng
- Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Yue Leon Guo
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
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19
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Hwang BF, Chen YH, Lin YT, Wu XT, Leo Lee Y. Relationship between exposure to fine particulates and ozone and reduced lung function in children. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2015; 137:382-90. [PMID: 25614339 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Revised: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A limited number of studies have reported an association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and lung function growth among children, with inconclusive results. OBJECTIVES To assess the relationship between air pollutant exposure and lung function growth, and to examine potential sex differences in the susceptibility of lung function growth to air pollution. METHODS We conducted a two-year prospective cohort study of Taiwanese children aged 12 at baseline who were followed from October 1, 2007 to November 31, 2009. The study population comprised 2941 non-smoking children who completed pulmonary function tests at both baseline and follow-up surveys. We applied spatial modeling for individual-level exposure assessment to capture relevant exposures and also attempted to eliminate potential community-level confounding. The exposure parameters were annual averages and values calculated from 24-hourly PM2.5 and 8-hourly ozone (O3) concentrations, corresponding to the residential addresses over the study period. The effect estimates were presented as lung function growth deficits per interquartile range (IQR) for PM2.5 and O3. RESULTS In a multiple linear mixed effect model, adjusted for confounding, growth deficits in the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiration volume in 1s (FEV1), and forced expiratory flow between the 25th and 75th percentiles of the FVC were associated with increased exposure to PM2.5 and O3. For example, greater exposure to PM2.5 (IQR, 17.92μg/m(3)) was associated with an annual deficit in FVC growth of 75mL in boys and 61mL in girls (p for interaction <0.05). Similar associations were found for O3. CONCLUSIONS The study provides evidence that long-term exposure to PM2.5 and O3 may have a detrimental effect on the development of lung function in children. The estimated deficits were generally larger in boys, compared to girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Fang Hwang
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Hui Chen
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Lin
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Xiao-Tang Wu
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yungling Leo Lee
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No.17 Xu-Zhou Road, 516R, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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20
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Adar SD, Kaufman JD, Diez-Roux AV, Hoffman EA, D'Souza J, Stukovsky KH, Rich SS, Rotter JI, Guo X, Raffel LJ, Sampson PD, Oron AP, Raghunathan T, Barr RG. Air pollution and percent emphysema identified by computed tomography in the Multi-Ethnic study of Atherosclerosis. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2015; 123:144-51. [PMID: 25302408 PMCID: PMC4314244 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1307951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollution is linked to low lung function and to respiratory events, yet little is known of associations with lung structure. OBJECTIVES We examined associations of particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) with percent emphysema-like lung on computed tomography (CT). METHODS The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) recruited participants (45-84 years of age) in six U.S. states. Percent emphysema was defined as lung regions < -910 Hounsfield Units on cardiac CT scans acquired following a highly standardized protocol. Spirometry was also conducted on a subset. Individual-level 1- and 20-year average air pollution exposures were estimated using spatiotemporal models that included cohort-specific measurements. Multivariable regression was conducted to adjust for traditional risk factors and study location. RESULTS Among 6,515 participants, we found evidence of an association between percent emphysema and long-term pollution concentrations in an analysis leveraging between-city exposure contrasts. Higher concentrations of PM2.5 (5 μg/m3) and NOx (25 ppb) over the previous year were associated with 0.6 (95% CI: 0.1, 1.2%) and 0.5 (95% CI: 0.1, 0.9%) higher average percent emphysema, respectively. However, after adjustment for study site the associations were -0.6% (95% CI: -1.5, 0.3%) for PM2.5 and -0.5% (95% CI: -1.1, 0.02%) for NOx. Lower lung function measures (FEV1 and FVC) were associated with higher PM2.5 and NOx levels in 3,791 participants before and after adjustment for study site, though most associations were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Associations between ambient air pollution and percentage of emphysema-like lung were inconclusive in this cross-sectional study, thus longitudinal analyses may better clarify these associations with percent emphysema.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara D Adar
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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21
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Borgini A, Ricci C, Bertoldi M, Crosignani P, Tittarelli A. The EuroLifeNet Study: How Different Microenvironments Influence Personal Exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> among High-School Students in Milan. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.4236/ojap.2015.41003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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22
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Spyratos D, Sioutas C, Tsiotsios A, Haidich AB, Chloros D, Triantafyllou G, Sichletidis L. Effects of particulate air pollution on nasal and lung function development among Greek children: a 19-year cohort study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2014; 25:480-489. [PMID: 25406059 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2014.979775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The aim was to investigate respiratory symptoms, lung function and nasal airflow development among a cohort of children who were exposed to particulate air pollution. We used questionnaires, spirometry and rhinomanometry, while central-monitored PM10 concentrations were used for exposure assessment. We initially examined 1046 children (10-12 year old) in the heavily polluted town of Ptolemaida, Greece, and 379 children in the cleaner town of Grevena (control group). We re-evaluated 312 of the former and 119 of the latter after 19 years. PM10 concentrations were above permissible levels in Ptolemaida during all study period. At both visits, nasal flow was significantly lower in the study sample. At the follow-up visit, 34.3% had severe nasal obstruction (< 500 ml/s) and 38.5% reported chronic nasal symptoms. Spirometric parameters did not differ compared to the control group. Particulate air pollution had significant and negative effects on nasal but not on lung function development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dionisios Spyratos
- a Laboratory for the Investigation of Environmental Diseases, Pulmonary Department , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki , Greece
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Chien LC, Lien YJ, Yang CH, Yu HL. Acute increase of children's conjunctivitis clinic visits by Asian dust storms exposure - a spatiotemporal study in Taipei, Taiwan. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109175. [PMID: 25347189 PMCID: PMC4210057 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse health impacts of Asian dust storms (ADS) have been widely investigated and discussed in respiratory disease, but no study has examined the association between ADS events and their impact on eye diseases, especially in children. The impact of ADS events on the incidence of children's conjunctivitis is examined by analyzing the data from children's clinic visits registered in the 41 districts of Taipei area in Taiwan during the period 2002-2007. The structural additive regression modeling approach was used to assess the association between ADS events and clinic visits for conjunctivitis in children with consideration of day-of-the-week effects, temperature, and air quality levels. This study identifies an acute increase in the relative rate for children's conjunctivitis clinic visits during ADS periods with 1.48% (95% CI = 0.79, 2.17) for preschool children (aged <6 years old) and 9.48% (95% CI = 9.03, 9.93) for schoolchildren (aged ≥6 years old), respectively. The relative rates during post-ADS periods were still statistically significant, but much lower than those during ADS periods. The spatial analysis presents geographic heterogeneity of children's conjunctivitis clinic visits where higher relative rates were more likely observed in the most populated districts Compared to previous ADS studies related to respiratory diseases, our results reveals significantly acute impacts on children's conjunctivitis during ADS periods, and much influence on schoolchildren. Vulnerable areas were also identified in high density population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lung-Chang Chien
- Division of Biostatistics, University of Texas School of Public Health at San Antonio Regional Campus, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yi-Jen Lien
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chiang-Hsin Yang
- Department of Health Care Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hwa-Lung Yu
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Baccarelli AA, Zheng Y, Zhang X, Chang D, Liu L, Wolf KR, Zhang Z, McCracken JP, Díaz A, Bertazzi PA, Schwartz J, Wang S, Kang CM, Koutrakis P, Hou L. Air pollution exposure and lung function in highly exposed subjects in Beijing, China: a repeated-measure study. Part Fibre Toxicol 2014; 11:51. [PMID: 25272992 PMCID: PMC4192276 DOI: 10.1186/s12989-014-0051-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) has been associated with reduced lung function. Elemental components of PM have been suggested to have critical roles in PM toxicity, but their contribution to respiratory effects remains under-investigated. We evaluated the effects of traffic-related PM2.5 and its elemental components on lung function in two highly exposed groups of healthy adults in Beijing, China. Methods The Beijing Truck Driver Air Pollution Study (BTDAS) included 60 truck drivers and 60 office workers evaluated in 2008. On two days separated by 1-2 weeks, we measured lung function at the end of the work day, personal PM2.5, and nine elemental components of PM2.5 during eight hours of work, i.e., elemental carbon (EC), potassium (K), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), and titanium (Ti). We used covariate-adjusted mixed-effects models including PM2.5 as a covariate to estimate the percentage change in lung function associated with an inter-quartile range (IQR) exposure increase. Results The two groups had high and overlapping exposure distributions with mean personal PM2.5 of 94.6 μg/m3 (IQR: 48.5-126.6) in office workers and 126.8 μg/m3 (IQR: 73.9-160.5) in truck drivers. The distributions of the nine elements showed group-specific profiles and generally higher levels in truck drivers. In all subjects combined, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) did not significantly correlate with PM2.5. However, FEV1 showed negative associations with concentrations of four elements: Si (-3.07%, 95% CI: -5.00; -1.11, IQR: 1.54), Al (-2.88%, 95% CI: -4.91; -0.81, IQR: 0.86), Ca (-1.86%, 95% CI: -2.95; -0.76, IQR: 1.33), and Ti (-2.58%, 95% CI: -4.44; -0.68, IQR: 0.03), and FVC showed negative associations with concentrations of three elements: Si (-3.23%, 95% CI: -5.61; -0.79), Al (-3.26%, 95% CI: -5.73; -0.72), and Ca (-1.86%, 95% CI: -3.23; -0.47). In stratified analysis, Si, Al, Ca, and Ti showed associations with lung function only among truck drivers, and no significant association among office workers. Conclusion Selected elemental components of PM2.5 showed effects on lung function that were not found in analyses of particle levels alone. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12989-014-0051-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Yinan Zheng
- Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Dou Chang
- Department of Safety Engineering, China Institute of Industrial Health, Beijing, China.
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Katherine Rose Wolf
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Zhou Zhang
- Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - John P McCracken
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Anaité Díaz
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
| | - Pier Alberto Bertazzi
- Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan and IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Italy.
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sheng Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Choong-Min Kang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Lifang Hou
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. .,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Mölter A, Agius RM, de Vocht F, Lindley S, Gerrard W, Lowe L, Belgrave D, Custovic A, Simpson A. Long-term exposure to PM10 and NO2 in association with lung volume and airway resistance in the MAAS birth cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2013; 121:1232-8. [PMID: 23777813 PMCID: PMC3801452 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1205961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2012] [Accepted: 06/17/2013] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Findings from previous studies on the effects of air pollution exposure on lung function during childhood have been inconsistent. A common limitation has been the quality of exposure data used, and few studies have modeled exposure longitudinally throughout early life. OBJECTIVES We sought to study the long-term effects of exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10) and to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on specific airway resistance (sR(aw)) and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) before and after bronchodilator treatment. Subjects were from the Manchester Asthma and Allergy Study (MAAS) birth cohort (n = 1,185). METHODS Spirometry was performed during clinic visits at ages 3, 5, 8, and 11 years. Individual-level PM10 and NO2 exposures were estimated from birth to 11 years of age through a microenvironmental exposure model. Longitudinal and cross-sectional associations were estimated using generalized estimating equations and multivariable linear regression models. RESULTS Lifetime exposure to PM10 and NO2 was associated with significantly less growth in FEV1 (percent predicted) over time, both before (-1.37%; 95% CI: -2.52, -0.23 for a 1-unit increase in PM10 and -0.83%; 95% CI: -1.39, -0.28 for a 1-unit increase in NO2) and after bronchodilator treatment (-3.59%; 95% CI: -5.36, -1.83 and -1.20%; 95% CI: -1.97, -0.43, respectively). We found no association between lifetime exposure and sR(aw) over time. Cross-sectional analyses of detailed exposure estimates for the summer and winter before 11 years of age and lung function at 11 years indicated no significant associations. CONCLUSIONS Long-term PM10 and NO2 exposures were associated with small but statistically significant reductions in lung volume growth in children of elementary-school age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mölter
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Health Sciences Group, School of Community-Based Medicine, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Ross K, Chmiel JF, Ferkol T. The impact of the Clean Air Act. J Pediatr 2012; 161:781-6. [PMID: 22920509 PMCID: PMC4133758 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.06.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2012] [Revised: 04/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/29/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristie Ross
- Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - James F. Chmiel
- Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Thomas Ferkol
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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Health impacts of air pollution: a life course approach for examining predictors of respiratory health in adulthood. Ann Epidemiol 2012; 22:239-49. [PMID: 22463842 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2012.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2011] [Revised: 01/27/2012] [Accepted: 02/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This research applies a life course health development framework to examine the impacts of childhood exposure to air pollution on respiratory health in adulthood. METHODS This prospective cohort study uses data collected from children originally studied in the 1970/1980s, including exposure to air pollution, indoor exposures, sociodemographic variables, and health outcomes data. Thirty years later, a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from adulthood on health status, occupational and residential histories, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle. RESULTS Overall, 29% of respondents were diagnosed with at least one respiratory condition and 24% have persistent respiratory symptoms in adulthood. Significant neighborhood differences in exposure variables and adulthood health outcomes were found. Predictors of adulthood respiratory health include asthma diagnosis or chest illness in childhood, parental record of respiratory symptoms, other medical diagnosis in adulthood, fair/poor self-perceived health, smoking/exposure to smoking, and residing in a property built before 1950. Results suggest that exposure to ambient total suspended particulates in childhood is preventative for diagnosis with at least one respiratory condition in adulthood. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that long-term childhood exposure to air pollution does not predict respiratory conditions and symptoms in adulthood. However, respiratory health in childhood predicts adulthood respiratory health, thus suggesting that the health impacts of any exposures that impact respiratory health during critical or sensitive times in childhood are long term.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been associated with deficits in lung function growth among children in Western countries. However, few studies have explored this association in developing countries, where PM levels are often substantially higher. METHODS Children (n = 3273) 6-12 years of age were recruited from 8 schools in 4 Chinese cities. The lung function parameters of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were measured using computerized spirometers twice a year for up to 3 years (1993-1996). Dichotomous samplers placed in each schoolyard were used to measure PM2.5 and PM10 (PM with diameter ≤ 2.5 μm and ≤ 10 μm, respectively). Multivariable generalized estimating equations were used to examine the association between the quarterly average PM levels and lung function growth during the period of follow-up. RESULTS Annual average PM2.5 and PM10 levels in the 4 cities ranged from 57 to 158 μg/m and 95 to 268 μg/m, respectively. In multivariable models, an increase of 10 μg/m of PM2.5 was associated with decreases of 2.7 mL FEV1 (95% confidence interval = -3.5 to -2.0), 3.5 mL FVC (-4.3 to -2.7), 1.4 mL/year FEV1 growth (-1.8 to -0.9), and 1.5 mL/year FVC growth (-2.0 to -1.0). Similar results were seen with PM10 exposure. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to ambient particulate matter was associated with decreased growth in lung function among Chinese children.
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Eckel SP, Louis TA, Chaves PHM, Fried LP, Margolis AHG. Modification of the association between ambient air pollution and lung function by frailty status among older adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Am J Epidemiol 2012; 176:214-23. [PMID: 22811494 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kws001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The susceptibility of older adults to the health effects of air pollution is well-recognized. Advanced age may act as a partial surrogate for conditions associated with aging. The authors investigated whether gerontologic frailty (a clinical health status metric) modified the association between ambient level of ozone or particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm and lung function in 3,382 older adults using 7 years of follow-up data (1990-1997) from the Cardiovascular Health Study and its Environmental Factors Ancillary Study. Monthly average pollution and annual frailty assessments were related to up to 3 repeated measurements of lung function using cumulative summaries of pollution and frailty histories that accounted for duration as well as concentration. Frailty history was found to modify long-term associations of pollutants with forced vital capacity. For example, the decrease in forced vital capacity associated with a 70-ppb/month greater cumulative sum of monthly average ozone exposure was 12.3 mL (95% confidence interval: 10.4, 14.2) for a woman who had spent the prior 7 years prefrail or frail as compared with 4.7 mL (95% confidence interval: 3.8, 5.6) for a similar woman who was robust during all 7 years (interaction P < 0.001).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrah P Eckel
- Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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Schüepp K, Sly PD. The developing respiratory tract and its specific needs in regard to ultrafine particulate matter exposure. Paediatr Respir Rev 2012; 13:95-9. [PMID: 22475255 DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2011.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Nanoparticles have unique physico-chemical properties compared to larger particles that have the potential to provide promising new possibilities for biomedical applications. Considerable research is currently exploring these potentials of nanotechnology. In contrast, airborne particles as components of indoor air, ambient air pollution associated with traffic-related pollution, industry, power plants, and other combustion sources have the potential to harm children's health. However, a similar research effort into the potential health effects of exposure to nanoparticles is lacking. Children differ markedly from adults in their developmental biology rendering young children the most vulnerable group with regard to potentially harmful effects induced by particulate exposure. This review discusses the differences between children and adults in regard to nanoparticle exposure highlighting the uniqueness and vulnerability of children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Schüepp
- Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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Roy A, Chapman RS, Hu W, Wei F, Liu X, Zhang J. Indoor air pollution and lung function growth among children in four Chinese cities. INDOOR AIR 2012; 22:3-11. [PMID: 21954855 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2011.00748.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Ambient air pollution has been associated with decreased growth in lung function among children; but little is known about the impact of indoor air pollution. We examined relationships between indoor air pollution metrics and lung function growth, among children (n = 3273) aged 6-13 years living in four Chinese cities. Lung function parameters (FVC and FEV(1) ) were measured twice a year. Questionnaires were used to determine home coal burning and ventilation practices. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations. Use of coal as a household fuel was associated with 16.5 ml/year lower (33%, P < 0.001) and 20.5 ml/year lower (39%, P < 0.001) growth in children's FEV(1) and FVC, respectively. FEV(1) growth was 10.2 ml/year higher (20%, P = 0.009), and FVC growth was 17.0 ml/year higher (33%, P < 0.001) among children who lived in houses with the presence of a ventilation device. Among children living in houses where coal was used as a fuel and no ventilation devices were present, adjusted FVC and FEV(1) growth, respectively, were 37% and 61% that of the average growth per year in the full cohort. This suggests that household coal use may cause deficits in lung function growth, while using ventilation devices may be protective of lung development. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Nearly 3.4 billion people use solid fuels in homes for cooking and/or heating. We report the following findings from a longitudinal study: (i) household coal use is significantly associated with reduction in children's lung function growth and (ii) the use of household ventilation devices is significantly associated with higher lung function growth, particularly among children living in households where coal is used as a fuel. These findings not only provide evidence that indoor coal use impairs children's lung development but also point to the importance of improving ventilation conditions in reducing harmful effects of indoor air pollution sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Roy
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Piscataway, NJ, USA
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Fabian P, Adamkiewicz G, Levy JI. Simulating indoor concentrations of NO(2) and PM(2.5) in multifamily housing for use in health-based intervention modeling. INDOOR AIR 2012; 22:12-23. [PMID: 21913994 PMCID: PMC3248980 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2011.00742.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Residents of low-income multifamily housing can have elevated exposures to multiple environmental pollutants known to influence asthma. Simulation models can characterize the health implications of changing indoor concentrations, but quantifying the influence of interventions on concentrations is challenging given complex airflow and source characteristics. In this study, we simulated concentrations in a prototype multifamily building using CONTAM, a multizone airflow and contaminant transport program. Contaminants modeled included PM(2.5) and NO(2) , and parameters included stove use, presence and operability of exhaust fans, smoking, unit level, and building leakiness. We developed regression models to explain variability in CONTAM outputs for individual sources, in a manner that could be utilized in simulation modeling of health outcomes. To evaluate our models, we generated a database of 1000 simulated households with characteristics consistent with Boston public housing developments and residents and compared the predicted levels of NO(2) and PM(2.5) and their correlates with the literature. Our analyses demonstrated that CONTAM outputs could be readily explained by available parameters (R(2) between 0.89 and 0.98 across models), but that one-compartment box models would mischaracterize concentrations and source contributions. Our study quantifies the key drivers for indoor concentrations in multifamily housing and helps to identify opportunities for interventions. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Many low-income urban asthmatics live in multifamily housing that may be amenable to ventilation-related interventions such as weatherization or air sealing, wall and ceiling hole repairs, and exhaust fan installation or repair, but such interventions must be designed carefully given their cost and their offsetting effects on energy savings as well as indoor and outdoor pollutants. We developed models to take into account the complex behavior of airflow patterns in multifamily buildings, which can be used to identify and evaluate environmental and non-environmental interventions targeting indoor air pollutants which can trigger asthma exacerbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Fabian
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St., T4W, Boston, MA 02118
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 4 Floor Landmark Center West, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02115
- Corresponding author, , Tel: 617-638-4731, FAX: 617-638-4857
| | - Gary Adamkiewicz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 4 Floor Landmark Center West, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Jonathan I. Levy
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St., T4W, Boston, MA 02118
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 4 Floor Landmark Center West, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02115
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Influence of industrial environments on the development of respiratory systems and morphofunctional features in preadolescent boys. J Hum Kinet 2011; 30:161-71. [PMID: 23486548 PMCID: PMC3588638 DOI: 10.2478/v10078-011-0084-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study examines the differences between levels of selected structural and functional features of boys 11–13 years in age from regions with varying levels of air pollution, including an industrial and rural region. The sample consisted of 213 boys from the industrial region and 98 from the rural region. Somatic, respiratory parameters and motor abilities were evaluated in both groups. The analysis of respiratory parameters revealed significantly better development of respiratory systems in boys from the rural region. Additionally, motor abilities were also better developed in boys from the rural region.
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Lee D, Wallis C, Van Winkle LS, Wexler AS. Disruption of tracheobronchial airway growth following postnatal exposure to ozone and ultrafine particles. Inhal Toxicol 2011; 23:520-31. [PMID: 21780864 DOI: 10.3109/08958378.2011.591447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
This study examined airway structure changes in adult rats after a long recovery period due to sub-chronic juvenile exposure to ozone and ultrafine particles that have a high organic fraction. Neonatal male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed during lung development to 3 cycles of 0.5 ppm ozone from postnatal day 7 through 25. Two different exposure patterns were used: 5-day exposure per week (Ozone52) or 2-day exposure per week (Ozone25) with or without co-exposure to ultrafine particles (OPFP5252, OPFP5225). Airway architecture was evaluated at 81 days of age, after 56 days of continued development beyond the exposure period in filtered air (FA). By analyzing CT images from lung airway casts, we determined airway diameter, length, branching angle, and rotation angle for most conducting airways. Compared with the FA control group, the Ozone52 group showed significant decreases in airway diameter in generations larger than 10 especially in the right diaphragmatic lobe and in airway length in distal generations, while changes in airway structure due to the Ozone25 exposure were not appreciable. Interaction effects of ozone and ultrafine particle exposures were not significant. These results suggest that airway alterations due to postnatal ozone exposure are not limited to the distal region but occur extensively from the middle to distal conducting airways. Further, alterations due to early ozone exposure do not recover nearly 2 months after exposure has ceased demonstrating a persistent airway structural change following an early life exposure to ozone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyoub Lee
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Lee D, Srirama PK, Wallis C, Wexler AS. Postnatal growth of tracheobronchial airways of Sprague-Dawley rats. J Anat 2011; 218:717-25. [PMID: 21534951 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01372.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Rats are widely used for the studies of pulmonary toxicology in both juveniles and adults. To facilitate such studies, investigators have developed models of lung architecture based on manual or computerized airway measurements. However, postnatal growth of conducting airways of rat lungs has never been reported. In this paper, we present conducting airway architecture statistics for male Sprague-Dawley rat lungs at ages 15, 28, 40, and 81 days by analyzing CT images from airway silicon casts. Detailed branching characteristics and intersubject variance are presented. This study shows that (i) airway growth in diameter and length is not linear with age, (ii) growth of airway length is faster than that of diameter during the 15-81-day postnatal period, and (iii) asymmetry in airway diameter (ratio of major to minor daughter diameter) increases with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- DongYoub Lee
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Lee D, Willits N, Wexler AS. Detecting alterations in pulmonary airway development with airway-by-airway comparison. Ann Biomed Eng 2011; 39:1805-14. [PMID: 21347548 PMCID: PMC3096773 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-011-0279-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2010] [Accepted: 02/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal and postnatal exposures to air pollutants have adverse effects on lung development resulting in airway structure changes. Usually, generation-averaged analysis of airway geometric parameters is employed to differentiate between pulmonary airway trees. However, this method is limited, especially for monopodial branching trees such as in rat airways, because both quite proximal and less proximal airways that have very different structure and function may be in the same generation. To avoid limitations inherent in generation averaging, we developed a method that compares two trees airway-by-airway using micro CT image data from rat lungs. This computerized technique (1) identifies the geometry and architecture of the conducting airways from CT images, (2) extracts the main tree, (3) associates paired airways from the two different trees, and (4) develops summary statistics on the degree of similarity between populations of animals. By comparing the trees airway-by-airway, we found that the variance in airway length of the group exposed to diffusion flame particles (DFP) is significantly larger than the group raised in filtered air (FA). This method also found that rotation angle of the DFP group is significantly larger than FA, which is not as certain in the generation-based analysis. We suggest that airway-by-airway analysis complements generation-based averaging for detecting airway alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- DongYoub Lee
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Brugge D, Hong JS, Schiff D, Hui C, Moy S, Palella M, Buchner V, Woodin M. Methodological lessons and pilot data on the effect of proximity of homes and schools to highways on pediatric asthma and lung function. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2011; 26:119-125. [PMID: 21905455 DOI: 10.1515/reveh.2011.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Numerous studies have found that either living or attending school near highways or exposure to pollutants associated with heavy motor vehicle traffic are associated with a high prevalence of asthma and reduced lung function. Yet, few investigations have assessed school and home exposure in the same study. METHODS We recruited children aged 5-19 years from a pediatric clinic in an urban center (Boston Chinatown) for many of whom housing and school were located immediately adjacent to two major highways. A questionnaire was used to assess self-report of diagnosis of asthma and the proximity of schools and homes to highways, as well as basic demographic information. Spirometric lung function data were obtained and reviewed by a pediatric pulmonologist blinded to survey responses. During this review, we excluded lung function tests of low quality. RESULTS The analyses did not demonstrate any associations or mean differences between near-highway exposure at school, at home, or both with diagnosed asthma (p>0.10, n=124). For the lung function data (n=87), neither direct measures (FEV1, FVC, and FEF(25-75)) nor ratio measures (FEV1/FVC and FEF(25-75)/FVC) had a significant association with near-highway exposure (p>0.10). Certain predisposing factors, such as diagnosed allergies and family history of asthma, were strongly associated with diagnosed asthma (p<0.05 and p=0.001, respectively), findings we have seen consistently in other work with children recruited from the same clinic. We also found that exposure to pests was significantly correlated with a smaller FEF(25-75)/FVC ratio (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that either limitations in our study design restricted our ability to see the associations reported by others or that such associations do not exist in this population. One possibility is that in this community, with heavy street traffic and many street canyons, the gradient of exposure next to the highway is not very well delineated by simple proximity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug Brugge
- Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02111, USA.
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Eisner MD, Anthonisen N, Coultas D, Kuenzli N, Perez-Padilla R, Postma D, Romieu I, Silverman EK, Balmes JR. An official American Thoracic Society public policy statement: Novel risk factors and the global burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2010; 182:693-718. [PMID: 20802169 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200811-1757st] [Citation(s) in RCA: 604] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Although cigarette smoking is the most important cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a substantial proportion of COPD cases cannot be explained by smoking alone. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the risk factors for COPD besides personal cigarette smoking. METHODS We constituted an ad hoc subcommittee of the American Thoracic Society Environmental and Occupational Health Assembly. An international group of members was invited, based on their scientific expertise in a specific risk factor for COPD. For each risk factor area, the committee reviewed the literature, summarized the evidence, and developed conclusions about the likelihood of it causing COPD. All conclusions were based on unanimous consensus. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The population-attributable fraction for smoking as a cause of COPD ranged from 9.7 to 97.9%, but was less than 80% in most studies, indicating a substantial burden of disease attributable to nonsmoking risk factors. On the basis of our review, we concluded that specific genetic syndromes and occupational exposures were causally related to the development of COPD. Traffic and other outdoor pollution, secondhand smoke, biomass smoke, and dietary factors are associated with COPD, but sufficient criteria for causation were not met. Chronic asthma and tuberculosis are associated with irreversible loss of lung function, but there remains uncertainty about whether there are important phenotypic differences compared with COPD as it is typically encountered in clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS In public health terms, a substantive burden of COPD is attributable to risk factors other than smoking. To prevent COPD-related disability and mortality, efforts must focus on prevention and cessation of exposure to smoking and these other, less well-recognized risk factors.
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Lee D, Wallis C, Wexler AS, Schelegle ES, Van Winkle LS, Plopper CG, Fanucchi MV, Kumfer B, Kennedy IM, Chan JKW. Small particles disrupt postnatal airway development. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2010; 109:1115-24. [PMID: 20634362 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00295.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing numbers of epidemiologic studies associate air pollution exposure in children with decreased lung function development. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of exposure to combustion-generated fine [230 and 212 nm number mean aerodynamic particle diameter (NMAD)] to ultrafine (73 nm NMAD) particles differing in elemental (EC) and organic (OC) carbon content on postnatal airway development in rats. Neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed from postnatal day 7 through 25, and lung function and airway architecture were evaluated 81 days of age. In a separate group of rats, cell proliferation was examined after a single particle exposure at 7 days of age. Early life exposure to 73 nm high OC/EC particles altered distal airway architecture and resulted in subtle changes in lung mechanics. Early life exposure to 212 nm high OC/EC particles did not alter lung architecture but did alter lung mechanics in a manner suggestive of central airway changes. In contrast, early life exposure to 230 nm low OC/EC particles did not alter lung architecture or mechanics. A single 6-h exposure to 73 nm high OC/EC particle decreased airway cell proliferation, whereas 212 nm high OC/EC particles increased it and 230 nm low OC/EC particles did not. The early life exposure to ultrafine, high OC/EC particles results in persistent alterations in distal airway architecture that is characterized by an initial decrease in airway cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- DongYoub Lee
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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He QQ, Wong TW, Du L, Jiang ZQ, Gao Y, Qiu H, Liu WJ, Wu JG, Wong A, Yu TSI. Effects of ambient air pollution on lung function growth in Chinese schoolchildren. Respir Med 2010; 104:1512-20. [PMID: 20471233 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2010.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2009] [Revised: 04/13/2010] [Accepted: 04/17/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the adverse effect of exposure to air pollution on lung function growth in school-aged children. METHODS A cohort of 1983 children from three districts in Guangzhou, China was followed-up for 6 months. The children performed pulmonary function tests twice, and their parents reported the child's respiratory symptoms by self-administered questionnaires in both surveys. RESULTS The annual mean concentrations of air pollutants for the past 5 years for particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (PM(10)), nitrogen (NO(2)), and sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) were respectively: 96.1 microg/m(3), 76.0 microg/m(3), and 65.7 microg/m(3) in the highly-polluted district (HPD), 80.3 microg/m(3), 67.6 mug/m(3), and 54.5 microg/m(3) in the moderately-polluted district (MPD), and 80.0 microg/m(3), 48.1 microg/m(3), and 52.2 microg/m(3) in the least-polluted district (LPD). After adjustment for potential confounders, significant deficits were found in the annual growth rates of forced expiratory flows at 25% (FEF(25)), and between 25% and 75% (FEF(25-75)) in boys and FEF(25) in girls (In boys, for FEF(25), -0.136 l/s, p = 0.008 in MPD and -0.153 l/s, p = 0.004 in HPD, respectively; for FEF(25-75), -0.176 l/s, p = 0.013 in MPD and -0.167 l/s, p = 0.021 in HPD, respectively. In girls, for FEF(25), -0.123 l/s, p = 0.043 in HPD), using LPD as the reference. Deficits in the annual growth rate of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) were also negatively associated with air pollution in boys (-0.063 L, p = 0.032 in HPD). CONCLUSIONS The study adds more evidence that exposure to air pollution has adverse effects on lung function growth in schoolchildren.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Qiang He
- School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
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Zhong CY, Zhou YM, Smith KR, Kennedy IM, Chen CY, Aust AE, Pinkerton KE. Oxidative injury in the lungs of neonatal rats following short-term exposure to ultrafine iron and soot particles. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2010; 73:837-847. [PMID: 20391124 DOI: 10.1080/15287391003689366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Greater risk of adverse effects from particulate matter (PM) has been noted in susceptible subpopulations, such as children. However, the physicochemical components responsible for these biological effects are not understood. As critical constituents of PM, transition metals were postulated to be involved in a number of pathological processes of the respiratory system through free radical-medicated damage. The purpose of this study was to examine whether oxidative injury in the lungs of neonatal rats could be induced by repeated short-term exposure to iron (Fe) and soot particles. Sprague Dawley rats 10 d of age were exposed by inhalation to two different concentrations of ultrafine iron particles (30 or 100 microg/m(3)) in combination with soot particles adjusted to maintain a total particle concentration of 250 microg/m(3). Exposure at 10 d and again at 23 d of age was for 6 h/d for 3 d. Oxidative stress was observed at both Fe concentrations in the form of significant elevations in glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and GSSG/glutathione (GSH) ratio and a reduction in ferric/reducing antioxidant power in bronchoalveolar lavage. A significant decrease in cell viability associated with significant increases in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, interleukin-1-beta (IL-1beta), and ferritin expression was noted following exposure to particles containing the highest Fe concentration. Iron from these particles was shown to be bioavailable in an in vitro assay using the physiologically relevant chelator, citrate. Data indicate that combined Fe and soot particle exposure induces oxidative injury, cytotoxicity and pro-inflammatory responses in the lungs of neonatal rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai-Yun Zhong
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
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Who is affected more by air pollution-sick or healthy? Some evidence from a health survey of schoolchildren living in the vicinity of a coal-fired power plant in Northern Israel. Health Place 2009; 16:399-408. [PMID: 20018550 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2009.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2009] [Revised: 11/18/2009] [Accepted: 11/22/2009] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of exposure to air pollution by NO(x) and SO(2) on the development of pulmonary function of children, characterized by different health status. METHODS A cohort of 1181 schoolchildren from the 2nd to 5th grades, residing near a major coal-fired power plant in the Hadera district of Israel, were subdivided into three health status groups, according to the diagnosis given by a physician at the beginning of the study period in 1996: (a) healthy children; (b) children experiencing chest symptoms, and (c) children with asthma or spastic bronchitis. Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) were performed twice (in 1996 and 1999) and analyzed in conjunction with air pollution estimates at the children's places of residence and several potential confounders-height, age, gender, parental education, passive smoking, housing density, length of residence in the study area and proximity to the main road. RESULTS A significant negative association was found between changes in PFT results and individual exposure estimates to air pollution, controlled for socio-demographic characteristics of children and their living conditions. A sensitivity analysis revealed a decrease in the Forced Expiratory Volume during the First Second (FEV(1)) of about 19.6% for children with chest symptoms, 11.8% for healthy children, and approximately 7.9% for children diagnosed with asthma. Results of a sensitivity test for the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) were found to be similar. CONCLUSION Exposure to air pollution appeared to have had the greatest effect on children with chest symptoms. This phenomenon may be explained by the fact that this untreated symptomatic group might experience the most severe insult on their respiratory system as a result of exposure to ambient air pollution, which is reflected by a considerable reduction in their FEV(1) and FVC. Since asthmatic children have lower baseline and slower growth rates, their PFT change may be affected less by exposure to air pollution, reflecting a well known relationship between pulmonary function change and height growth, according to which age-specific height is very similar for preadolescent children, but shifts upward with age during the growth spurt.
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Soto-Martinez M, Sly PD. Review Series: What goes around, comes around: childhood influences on later lung health?: Relationship between environmental exposures in children and adult lung disease: The case for outdoor exposures. Chron Respir Dis 2009; 7:173-86. [DOI: 10.1177/1479972309345929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing understanding that chronic respiratory diseases in adults have their origins in early life. Adverse environmental exposures occurring in vulnerable periods during lung growth and development in the fetal period and in early childhood that alter lung structure and limit the growth in lung function may have lifelong consequences. Evidence is increasing that exposure to the ambient environment, including air pollutants, persistent toxic substances, water pollutants and respiratory viral infections, can inhibit lung function growth and predispose to chronic non-malignant lung diseases. These exposures generally interact with a genetic predisposition, and gene—environment interactions and epigenetic phenomena are attracting considerable study. An understanding of how ambient exposures impact on normal lung growth and development will aid in understanding of how chronic respiratory diseases of adults develop and may lead to new preventative strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter D Sly
- Division of Clinical Sciences, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Australia, , WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on Children's Environmental Health, Australia, School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Australia, School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, Australia
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Castro HAD, Cunha MFD, Mendonça GAES, Junger WL, Cunha-Cruz J, Leon APD. Effect of air pollution on lung function in schoolchildren in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rev Saude Publica 2009; 43:26-34. [PMID: 19169573 DOI: 10.1590/s0034-89102009000100004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2007] [Accepted: 05/08/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the association between daily exposure to air pollution and lung function in school children. METHODS Panel study with a random sample of 118 students (between 6 and 15 years of age), enrolled in a public school of the city of Rio de Janeiro, state of Rio de Janeiro, and living within 2 km of the study site. Data on students' characteristics were obtained with a questionnaire, including the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood - ISAAC. Daily peak expiratory flow measurements were taken to measure lung function. Daily data on PM10, SO2, O3, NO2 and CO levels, temperature and humidity were provided by a portable monitor. Repeated measurements of lung function were associated with pollutant levels with a multilevel model adjusted for time trend, temperature, air humidity, exposure to smoking at home, presence of asthma, height, sex, weight and age of children. RESULTS Mean peak expiratory flow was 243.5 l/m (sd=58.9). The lowest mean peak expiratory flow was 124 l/m, and the highest, 450 l/m. For the 10 microg/m(3) increase in PM10, there was a 0.34 l/min decrease in mean peak flow on the third day. For the 10 microg/m(3) increase in NO2, there was a decrease between 0.23 l/min and 0.28 l/min in mean peak flow after exposure. CO and SO2 effects on students' peak flow were not statistically significant. O3 showed a protective result: an increase in 10 microg/m(3) of O3 would be associated, after a day of exposure, with a 0.2 l/min increase in mean lung function. CONCLUSIONS Even within acceptable levels most of the time, air pollution, especially PM10 and NO2, was associated with a decrease in lung function in children living in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermano Albuquerque de Castro
- Centro de Estudos de Saúde do Trabalhador e Ecologia Humana, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. ocruz.br
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Pénard-Morand C, Annesi-Maesano I. [Allergic respiratory diseases and outdoor air pollution]. Rev Mal Respir 2009; 25:1013-26. [PMID: 18971807 DOI: 10.1016/s0761-8425(08)74417-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION After having increased for some time, the prevalence of allergic diseases may have reached a plateau. During this increase, considerable concomitant changes in air pollution have occurred. Photo-oxidant air pollution, related to traffic, has become preponderant. The implication of air pollution in the epidemic of allergies is still debated. BACKGROUND Experimental studies have suggested that the effect of air pollutants, including particulates and ozone, on the worsening and even the induction of allergies is biologically plausible. In addition, epidemiological studies have shown a short term impact of the peaks of air pollution on exacerbations of asthma. On the other hand, the results of epidemiological studies dealing with the long-term effects of chronic exposure to air pollution on the prevalence of allergies are less consistent. VIEWPOINTS The implementation of new-born cohorts, the use of dispersion models to improve exposure assessment and the study of gene-environment correlations, should increase our knowledge of the role of traffic-related air pollutants in the development of allergies and identify subjects more sensitive to their effects. CONCLUSIONS Some traffic-related air pollutants may have played a more important role in the increase in the prevalence of allergies than was assumed from the first epidemiological studies.
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Latza U, Gerdes S, Baur X. Effects of nitrogen dioxide on human health: systematic review of experimental and epidemiological studies conducted between 2002 and 2006. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2008; 212:271-87. [PMID: 18771952 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2008.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2008] [Revised: 06/19/2008] [Accepted: 06/24/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In order to assess health effects in humans caused by environmental nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) a systematic review of studies in humans was conducted. MEDLINE database was searched for epidemiological studies and experiments on adverse effects of NO(2) published between 2002 and 2006. The evidence with regard to NO(2) exposure limits was assessed using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) grading system and the modified three star system. Of the 214 articles retrieved 112 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There was limited evidence that short-term exposure to a 1-h mean value below 200 microg NO(2)/m(3) is associated with adverse health effects provided by only one study on mortality in patients with severe asthma (*2+). The effect remained after adjusting for other air pollutants. There was moderate evidence that short-term exposure below a 24-h mean value of 50 microg NO(2)/m(3) at monitor stations increases hospital admissions and mortality (**2+). Evidence was also moderate when the search was restricted to susceptible populations (children, adolescents, elderly, and asthmatics). There was moderate evidence that long-term exposure to an annual mean below 40 microg NO(2)/m(3) was associated with adverse health effects (respiratory symptoms/diseases, hospital admissions, mortality, and otitis media) provided by generally consistent findings in five well-conducted cohort and case-control studies with some shortcomings in the study quality (**2+). Evidence was also moderate when the search was restricted to studies in susceptible populations (children and adolescents) and for the combination with other air pollutants. The most frequent reasons for decreased study quality were potential misclassification of exposure and selection bias. None of the high-quality observational studies evaluated was informative for the key questions due to the choice of the dose parameter (e.g., 1-week mean) and exposure levels above the limit values. Inclusion of study designs unlisted in the SIGN grading system did not bring additional evidence regarding exposures below the current air quality limit values for NO(2). As several recent studies reported adverse health effects below the current exposure limits for NO(2) particularly among susceptible populations regarding long-term exposure further research is needed. Apart from high-quality epidemiological studies on causality and the interaction of NO(2) with other air pollutants there is a need for double-blinded randomized cross-over studies among susceptible populations for further evaluation of the short-term exposure limits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Latza
- Institute for Occupational Medicine and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University of Hamburg, Hamburg State Department for Social Affairs, Family, Health, and Consumer Protection, Hamburg, Germany.
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Abstract
Lung function is an important measure of respiratory health and a predictor of cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. Over the past 2 decades, more than 50 publications have investigated long-term effects of ambient air pollution on lung function with most finding adverse effects. Several studies have also suggested effects from traffic-related air pollution. There is strong support for air pollution effects on the development of lung function in children and adolescents. It remains unclear whether subjects with slower development of lung function compensate by prolonging the growth phase, or whether they end their development at a lower plateau, thus entering the decline phase with a reduced lung function. In adults, the evidence for long-term air pollution effects is mostly based on cross-sectional comparisons. One recent longitudinal study observed that decreasing pollution attenuated the decline of lung function in adults. Earlier inconclusive cohort studies were based on limited data. There is great diversity in study designs, markers of air pollution, approaches to the measurement of exposure, and choices in lung function measures. These limit the comparability of studies and impede quantitative summaries. New studies should use individual-level exposure assessment to clarify the role of traffic and to preclude potential community-level confounding. Further research is needed on the relevance of specific pollution sources, particularly with regard to susceptible populations and relevant exposure periods throughout life.
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Traffic-related air pollution and childhood respiratory symptoms, function and allergies. Epidemiology 2008; 19:401-8. [PMID: 18379426 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0b013e31816a1ce3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urban air pollution can trigger asthma symptoms in children, but there is conflicting evidence on effects of long-term exposure on lung function, onset of airway disease and allergic sensitization. METHODS The spatial distribution of nitrogen oxides from traffic (traffic-NOx) and inhalable particulate matter from traffic (traffic-PM10) in the study area was assessed with emission databases and dispersion modeling. Estimated levels were used to assign first-year exposure levels for children in a prospective birth cohort (n = 4089), by linking to geocoded home addresses. Parents in 4 Swedish municipalities provided questionnaire data on symptoms and exposures when the children were 2 months and 1, 2, and 4-year-old. At 4 years, 73% of the children underwent clinical examination including peak expiratory flow and specific IgE measurements. RESULTS Exposure to air pollution from traffic during the first year of life was associated with an excess risk of persistent wheezing (odds ratio [OR] for 44 microg/m3 [5th-95th percentile] difference in traffic-NOx = 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-2.36). Similar results were found for sensitization (measured as specific IgE) to inhalant allergens, especially pollen (OR for traffic-NOx = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.10-2.53), at the age of 4 years. Traffic-related air pollution exposure during the first year of life was also associated with lower lung function at 4 years of age. Results were similar using traffic-NOx and traffic-PM10 as indicators. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to moderate levels of locally emitted air pollution from traffic early in life appears to influence the development of airway disease and sensitization in preschool children.
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Mauad T, Rivero DHRF, de Oliveira RC, Lichtenfels AJDFC, Guimarães ET, de Andre PA, Kasahara DI, Bueno HMDS, Saldiva PHN. Chronic exposure to ambient levels of urban particles affects mouse lung development. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008; 178:721-8. [PMID: 18596224 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200803-436oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Chronic exposure to air pollution has been associated with adverse effects on children's lung growth. OBJECTIVES We analyzed the effects of chronic exposure to urban levels of particulate matter (PM) on selected phases of mouse lung development. METHODS The exposure occurred in two open-top chambers (filtered and nonfiltered) placed 20 m from a street with heavy traffic in São Paulo, 24 hours/day for 8 months. There was a significant reduction of the levels of PM(2.5) inside the filtered chamber (filtered = 2.9 +/- 3.0 microg/m(3), nonfiltered = 16.8 +/- 8.3 microg/m(3); P = 0.001). At this exposure site, vehicular sources are the major components of PM(2.5) (PM <or= 2.5 microm). Exposure of the parental generation in the two chambers occurred from the 10th to the 120th days of life. After mating and birth of offspring, a crossover of mothers and pups occurred within the chambers, resulting in four groups of pups: nonexposed, prenatal, postnatal, and pre+postnatal. Offspring were killed at the age of 15 (n = 42) and 90 (n = 35) days; lungs were analyzed by morphometry for surface to volume ratio (as an estimator of alveolization). Pressure-volume curves were performed in the older groups, using a 20-ml plethysmograph. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Mice exposed to PM(2.5) pre+postnatally presented a smaller surface to volume ratio when compared with nonexposed animals (P = 0.036). The pre+postnatal group presented reduced inspiratory and expiratory volumes at higher levels of transpulmonary pressure (P = 0.001). There were no differences among prenatal and postnatal exposure and nonexposed animals. CONCLUSIONS Our data provide anatomical and functional support to the concept that chronic exposure to urban PM affects lung growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais Mauad
- Department of Pathology, Sao Paulo University Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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