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Zhang X, Zhang H, Wang Y, Bai P, Zhang L, Wei Y, Tang N. Characteristics and determinants of personal exposure to typical air pollutants: A pilot study in Beijing and Baoding, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 218:114976. [PMID: 36460073 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx, NO2 and NO), ozone (O3) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) was repeatedly measured among fourteen office workers in Beijing and Baoding, China in summer, autumn and winter of 2019. Time-activity patterns were simultaneously recorded. Determinants of personal air pollution exposure were investigated for each pollutant via a linear mixed effect model. The personal concentrations of PM2.5, NO2, NO and O3 were higher in autumn and winter than those in summer. A decreasing trend was found in the personal PM2.5 level for a typical indoor population in Beijing, indicating that particulate pollution was effectively controlled in Beijing and its surrounding area. The personal levels of PM2.5, NO2, and O3 were weakly correlated with those monitored at ambient stations and were lower than the respective ambient levels except for PM2.5 in summer and NO2 in winter. This pilot study showed that the indoor air environment, ambient pollution, traffic-related variables and temperature were significant exposure sources for office workers. Our study highlighted the significance of controlling traffic emissions and improving the workplace air quality to protect the health of office workers. More importantly, we demonstrated the feasibility of model development for personal air pollution exposure prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Hao Zhang
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Yan Wang
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Pengchu Bai
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Lulu Zhang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China; Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Yongjie Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China; Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, China.
| | - Ning Tang
- Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan; Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Science, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan.
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2
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Hedström AK, Segersson D, Hillert J, Stridh P, Kockum I, Olsson T, Bellander T, Alfredsson L. Association between exposure to combustion-related air pollution and multiple sclerosis risk. Int J Epidemiol 2023:6984751. [PMID: 36629499 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyac234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smoking and occupational pulmonary irritants contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS) development. We aimed to study the association between ambient air pollution and MS risk and potential interaction with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*15:01 allele. METHODS Exposure to combustion-related air pollution was estimated as outdoor levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) at the participants' residence locations, by spatially resolved dispersion modelling for the years 1990-18. Using two population-based case-control studies (6635 cases, 8880 controls), NOx levels were associated with MS risk by calculating odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using logistic regression models. Interaction between high NOx levels and the HLA-DRB1*15:01 allele regarding MS risk was calculated by the attributable proportion due to interaction (AP). In addition, a register study was performed comprising all MS cases in Sweden who had received their diagnosis between 1993 and 2018 (n = 22 173), with 10 controls per case randomly selected from the National Population register. RESULTS Residential air pollution was associated with MS risk. NOx levels (3-year average) exceeding the 90th percentile (24.6 µg/m3) were associated with an OR of 1.37 (95% CI 1.10-1.76) compared with levels below the 25th percentile (5.9 µg/m3), with a trend of increasing risk of MS with increasing levels of NOx (P <0.0001). A synergistic effect was observed between high NOx levels (exceeding the lower quartile among controls) and the HLA-DRB1*15:01 allele regarding MS risk (AP 0.26, 95% CI 0.13-0.29). CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that moderate levels of combustion-related ambient air pollution may play a role in MS development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Karin Hedström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - David Segersson
- Air Quality Research Unit, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Norrköping, Sweden.,Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Hillert
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Stridh
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Kockum
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tomas Olsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tom Bellander
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Alfredsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Grande G, Ljungman PLS, Eneroth K, Bellander T, Rizzuto D. Association Between Cardiovascular Disease and Long-term Exposure to Air Pollution With the Risk of Dementia. JAMA Neurol 2021; 77:801-809. [PMID: 32227140 PMCID: PMC7105952 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.4914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Question Does cardiovascular disease play a role in the association between long-term
exposure to air pollution and dementia? Findings In this cohort study of 2927 participants in the Swedish National Study on
Aging and Care in Kungsholmen, air pollution exposure was associated with
dementia risk despite comparatively low exposure levels. Heart failure and
ischemic heart disease enhanced this association, and the development of
stroke seemed to be an important intermediate condition. Meaning In this study, virtually all of the association between air pollution and
dementia seemed to occur through the presence or the development of
cardiovascular disease, which suggests a need to optimize treatment of
concurrent cardiovascular disease and risk factor control in older adults at
higher risk for dementia and living in polluted urban areas. Importance Emerging yet contrasting evidence associates air pollution with incident
dementia, and the potential role of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in this
association is unclear. Objective To investigate the association between long-term exposure to air pollution
and dementia and to assess the role of CVD in that association. Design, Setting, and Participants Data for this cohort study were extracted from the ongoing Swedish National
Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), a longitudinal
population-based study with baseline assessments from March 21, 2001,
through August 30, 2004. Of the 5111 randomly selected residents in the
Kungsholmen district of Stockholm 60 years or older and living at home or in
institutions, 521 were not eligible (eg, due to death before the start of
the study or no contact information). Among the remaining 4590 individuals,
3363 (73.3%) were assessed. For the current analysis, 2927 participants who
did not have dementia at baseline were examined, with follow-up to 2013
(mean [SD] follow-up time, 6.01 [2.56] years). Follow-up was completed
February 18, 2013, and data were analyzed from June 26, 2018, through June
20, 2019. Exposures Two major air pollutants (particulate matter ≤2.5 μm
[PM2.5] and nitrogen oxide [NOx]) were assessed
yearly from 1990, using dispersion models for outdoor levels at residential
addresses. Main Outcomes and Measures The hazard of dementia was estimated using Cox proportional hazards
regression models. The potential of CVD (ie, atrial fibrillation, ischemic
heart disease, heart failure, and stroke) to modify and mediate the
association between long-term exposure to air pollution and dementia was
tested using stratified analyses and generalized structural equation
modeling. Results At baseline, the mean (SD) age of the 2927 participants was 74.1 (10.7)
years, and 1845 (63.0%) were female. Three hundred sixty-four participants
with incident dementia were identified. The hazard of dementia increased by
as much as 50% per interquartile range difference in mean pollutant levels
during the previous 5 years at the residential address (hazard ratio [HR]
for difference of 0.88 μg/m3 PM2.5, 1.54 [95% CI,
1.33-1.78]; HR for difference of 8.35 μg/m3 NOx,
1.14 [95% CI, 1.01-1.29]). Heart failure (HR for PM2.5, 1.93 [95%
CI, 1.54-2.43]; HR for NOx, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.17-1.75]) and
ischemic heart disease (HR for PM2.5, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.32-2.12];
HR for NOx, 1.36 [95% CI, 1.07-1.71]) enhanced the dementia risk,
whereas stroke appeared to be the most important intermediate condition,
explaining 49.4% of air pollution–related dementia cases. Conclusions and Relevance This study found that long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with
a higher risk of dementia. Heart failure and ischemic heart disease appeared
to enhance the association between air pollution and dementia, whereas
stroke seemed to be an important intermediate condition between the
association of air pollution exposure with dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Grande
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Petter L S Ljungman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Cardiology, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristina Eneroth
- Environment and Health Administration, City of Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tom Bellander
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Debora Rizzuto
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden
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Evangelopoulos D, Katsouyanni K, Keogh RH, Samoli E, Schwartz J, Barratt B, Zhang H, Walton H. PM 2.5 and NO 2 exposure errors using proxy measures, including derived personal exposure from outdoor sources: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 137:105500. [PMID: 32018132 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of proxy exposure estimates for PM2.5 and NO2 in air pollution studies instead of personal exposures, introduces measurement error, which can produce biased epidemiological effect estimates. Most studies consider total personal exposure as the gold standard. However, when studying the effects of ambient air pollution, personal exposure from outdoor sources is the exposure of interest. OBJECTIVES We assessed the magnitude and variability of exposure measurement error by conducting a systematic review of the differences between personal exposures from outdoor sources and the corresponding measurements for ambient concentrations in order to increase understanding of the measurement error structures of the pollutants. DATA SOURCES AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We reviewed the literature (ISI Web of Science, Medline, 2000-2016) for English language studies (in any age group in any location (NO2) or Europe and North America (PM2.5)) that reported repeated measurements over time both for personal and ambient PM2.5 or NO2 concentrations. Only a few studies reported personal exposure from outdoor sources. We also collected data for infiltration factors and time-activity patterns of the individuals in order to estimate personal exposures from outdoor sources in every study. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS Studies using modelled rather than monitored exposures were excluded. Type of personal exposure monitor was assessed. Random effects meta-analysis was conducted to quantify exposure error as the mean difference between "true" and proxy measures. RESULTS Thirty-two papers for PM2.5 and 24 for NO2 were identified. Outdoor sources were found to contribute 44% (range: 33-55%) of total personal exposure to PM2.5 and 74% (range: 57-88%) to NO2. Overall estimates of personal exposure (24-hour averages) from outdoor sources were 9.3 μg/m3 and 12.0 ppb for PM2.5 and NO2 respectively, while the corresponding difference between these exposures and the ambient concentrations (i.e. the measurement error) was 5.72 μg/m3 and 7.17 ppb. Our findings indicated also higher error variability for NO2 than PM2.5. Large heterogeneity was observed which was not explained sufficiently by geographical location or age group of the study sample. LIMITATIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS Relying only on information available in published studies led to some limitations: the contribution of outdoor sources to total personal exposure for NO2 had to be inferred, individual variation in exposure misclassification was unavailable and instrument error could not be addressed. The larger magnitude and variability of errors for NO2 compared with PM2.5 has implications for biases in the health effect estimates of multi-pollutant epidemiological models. Results suggest that further research is needed regarding personal exposure studies and measurement error bias in epidemiological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris Evangelopoulos
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK.
| | - Klea Katsouyanni
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
| | - Ruth H Keogh
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Evangelia Samoli
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ben Barratt
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
| | - Hanbin Zhang
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
| | - Heather Walton
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
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5
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Richtwerte für Stickstoffdioxid (NO2) in der Innenraumluft. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2019; 62:664-676. [DOI: 10.1007/s00103-019-02891-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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6
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Dias D, Tchepel O. Spatial and Temporal Dynamics in Air Pollution Exposure Assessment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E558. [PMID: 29558426 PMCID: PMC5877103 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15030558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Analyzing individual exposure in urban areas offers several challenges where both the individual's activities and air pollution levels demonstrate a large degree of spatial and temporal dynamics. This review article discusses the concepts, key elements, current developments in assessing personal exposure to urban air pollution (seventy-two studies reviewed) and respective advantages and disadvantages. A new conceptual structure to organize personal exposure assessment methods is proposed according to two classification criteria: (i) spatial-temporal variations of individuals' activities (point-fixed or trajectory based) and (ii) characterization of air quality (variable or uniform). This review suggests that the spatial and temporal variability of urban air pollution levels in combination with indoor exposures and individual's time-activity patterns are key elements of personal exposure assessment. In the literature review, the majority of revised studies (44 studies) indicate that the trajectory based with variable air quality approach provides a promising framework for tackling the important question of inter- and intra-variability of individual exposure. However, future quantitative comparison between the different approaches should be performed, and the selection of the most appropriate approach for exposure quantification should take into account the purpose of the health study. This review provides a structured basis for the intercomparing of different methodologies and to make their advantages and limitations more transparent in addressing specific research objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Dias
- Department of Civil Engineering, CITTA, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, Polo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Oxana Tchepel
- Department of Civil Engineering, CITTA, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, Polo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal.
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7
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Glasgow ML, Rudra CB, Yoo EH, Demirbas M, Merriman J, Nayak P, Crabtree-Ide C, Szpiro AA, Rudra A, Wactawski-Wende J, Mu L. Using smartphones to collect time-activity data for long-term personal-level air pollution exposure assessment. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2016; 26:356-364. [PMID: 25425137 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2014.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Because of the spatiotemporal variability of people and air pollutants within cities, it is important to account for a person's movements over time when estimating personal air pollution exposure. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of using smartphones to collect personal-level time-activity data. Using Skyhook Wireless's hybrid geolocation module, we developed "Apolux" (Air, Pollution, Exposure), an Android(TM) smartphone application designed to track participants' location in 5-min intervals for 3 months. From 42 participants, we compared Apolux data with contemporaneous data from two self-reported, 24-h time-activity diaries. About three-fourths of measurements were collected within 5 min of each other (mean=74.14%), and 79% of participants reporting constantly powered-on smartphones (n=38) had a daily average data collection frequency of <10 min. Apolux's degree of temporal resolution varied across manufacturers, mobile networks, and the time of day that data collection occurred. The discrepancy between diary points and corresponding Apolux data was 342.3 m (Euclidian distance) and varied across mobile networks. This study's high compliance and feasibility for data collection demonstrates the potential for integrating smartphone-based time-activity data into long-term and large-scale air pollution exposure studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark L Glasgow
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Carole B Rudra
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Eun-Hye Yoo
- Department of Geography, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Murat Demirbas
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Joel Merriman
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Pramod Nayak
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Christina Crabtree-Ide
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Adam A Szpiro
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Atri Rudra
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jean Wactawski-Wende
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Lina Mu
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
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8
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Berenguer AG. I feel you-monitoring environmental variables related to asthma in an integrated real-time frame. BMC Res Notes 2015; 8:431. [PMID: 26361763 PMCID: PMC4566483 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1421-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of asthma and other complex diseases has proven to be a "moving target" for researchers due to its complex aetiology, difficulty in definition, and immeasurable environmental effects. A large number of studies regarding the contribution of both genetic and environmental factors often result in contradictory results, in part due to the highly heterogeneous nature of asthma. Recent literature has focused on the epigenetic signatures of asthma caused by environmental factors, highlighting the importance of environment. However, unlike the genetic techniques, environmental assessment still lacks accuracy. A plausible solution for this problem would be an individual-based environmental exposure assessment, relying on new technologies such as personal real-time environmental sensors. This could prove to enable the assessment of the whole environmental exposure-or exposome-matching in terms of precision the genome that is emphasized in most studies so far. In addition, the measurement of the whole array of biological molecules, in response to the environment action, could help understand the context of the disease. The current perspective comprises a beyond-genetics integrated vision of omics technology coupled with real-time environmental measures targeting to enhance our comprehension of the disease genesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabela Gonçalves Berenguer
- Human Genetics Laboratory, University of Madeira, 9000-390, Funchal, Portugal. .,Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Oulu, PL 4500, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
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9
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Ragettli MS, Phuleria HC, Tsai MY, Schindler C, de Nazelle A, Ducret-Stich RE, Ineichen A, Perez L, Braun-Fahrländer C, Probst-Hensch N, Künzli N. The relevance of commuter and work/school exposure in an epidemiological study on traffic-related air pollution. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2015; 25:474-81. [PMID: 25492241 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2014.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Revised: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 10/01/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Exposure during transport and at non-residential locations is ignored in most epidemiological studies of traffic-related air pollution. We investigated the impact of separately estimating NO2 long-term outdoor exposures at home, work/school, and while commuting on the association between this marker of exposure and potential health outcomes. We used spatially and temporally resolved commuter route data and model-based NO2 estimates of a population sample in Basel, Switzerland, to assign individual NO2-exposure estimates of increasing complexity, namely (1) home outdoor concentration; (2) time-weighted home and work/school concentrations; and (3) time-weighted concentration incorporating home, work/school and commute. On the basis of their covariance structure, we estimated the expectable relative differences in the regression slopes between a quantitative health outcome and our measures of individual NO2 exposure using a standard measurement error model. The traditional use of home outdoor NO2 alone indicated a 12% (95% CI: 11-14%) underestimation of related health effects as compared with integrating both home and work/school outdoor concentrations. Mean contribution of commuting to total weekly exposure was small (3.2%; range 0.1-13.5%). Thus, ignoring commute in the total population may not significantly underestimate health effects as compared with the model combining home and work/school. For individuals commuting between Basel-City and Basel-Country, ignoring commute may produce, however, a significant attenuation bias of 4% (95% CI: 4-5%). Our results illustrate the importance of including work/school locations in assessments of long-term exposures to traffic-related air pollutants such as NO2. Information on individuals' commuting behavior may further improve exposure estimates, especially for subjects having lengthy commutes along major transportation routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina S Ragettli
- 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Harish C Phuleria
- 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland [3] Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Ming-Yi Tsai
- 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schindler
- 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Regina E Ducret-Stich
- 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alex Ineichen
- 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laura Perez
- 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Braun-Fahrländer
- 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Probst-Hensch
- 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nino Künzli
- 1] Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland [2] University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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10
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Hagenbjörk-Gustafsson A, Tornevi A, Andersson EM, Johannesson S, Bellander T, Merritt AS, Tinnerberg H, Westberg H, Forsberg B, Sallsten G. Determinants of personal exposure to some carcinogenic substances and nitrogen dioxide among the general population in five Swedish cities. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2014; 24:437-43. [PMID: 24064531 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2013.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Revised: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Environmental levels of airborne carcinogenic and related substances are comparatively better known than individual exposure and its determinants. We report on a personal monitoring program involving five Swedish urban populations. The aim of the program was to investigate personal exposure to benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The measurements were performed among 40 inhabitants during seven consecutive days, in one urban area each year, during 2000-2008. The estimated population exposure levels were 1.95 μg/m(3) for benzene, 0.56 μg/m(3) for 1,3-butadiene, 19.4 μg/m(3) for formaldehyde, and 14.1 μg/m(3) for NO2. Statistical analysis using a mixed-effects model revealed that time spent in traffic and time outdoors contributed to benzene and 1,3- butadiene exposure. For benzene, refueling a car was an additional determinant influencing the exposure level. Smoking or environmental tobacco smoke were significant determinants of exposure to NO2, benzene, and 1,3-butadiene. Those with a gas stove had higher NO2 exposure. Living in a single-family house increased the exposure to formaldehyde significantly. In a variance component model, the between-subject variance dominated for 1,3-butadiene and formaldehyde, whereas the between-city variance dominated for NO2. For benzene, the between-subject and between-cities variances were similar.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andreas Tornevi
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umea University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Eva M Andersson
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 41, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sandra Johannesson
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 41, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tom Bellander
- Centre of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anne-Sophie Merritt
- Centre of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Håkan Tinnerberg
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Håkan Westberg
- 1] Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden [2] Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden
| | - Bertil Forsberg
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umea University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Gerd Sallsten
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 41, Gothenburg, Sweden
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