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Clark JB, Allen HC. Interfacial carbonyl groups of propylene carbonate facilitate the reversible binding of nitrogen dioxide. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:15733-15741. [PMID: 38767271 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp01382d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The interaction of NO2 with organic interfaces is critical in the development of NO2 sensing and trapping technologies, and equally so to the atmospheric processing of marine and continental aerosol. Recent studies point to the importance of surface oxygen groups in these systems, however the role of specific functional groups on the microscopic level has yet to be fully established. In the present study, we aim to provide fundamental information on the interaction and potential binding of NO2 at atmospherically relevant organic interfaces that may also help inform innovation in NO2 sensing and trapping development. We then present an investigation into the structural changes induced by NO2 at the surface of propylene carbonate (PC), an environmentally relevant carbonate ester. Surface-sensitive vibrational spectra of the PC liquid surface are acquired before, during, and after exposure to NO2 using infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). Analysis of vibrational changes at the liquid surface reveal that NO2 preferentially interacts with the carbonyl of PC at the interface, forming a distribution of binding symmetries. At low ppm levels, NO2 saturates the PC surface within 10 minutes and the perturbations to the surface are constant over time during the flow of NO2. Upon removal of NO2 flow, and under atmospheric pressures, these interactions are reversible, and the liquid surface structure of PC recovers completely within 30 min.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica B Clark
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
| | - Heather C Allen
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
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Li CH, Tsai ML, Chiou HY(C, Lin YC, Liao WT, Hung CH. Role of Macrophages in Air Pollution Exposure Related Asthma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012337. [PMID: 36293195 PMCID: PMC9603963 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by variable airflow obstruction, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and airway inflammation. The chronic inflammation of the airway is mediated by many cell types, cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory mediators. Research suggests that exposure to air pollution has a negative impact on asthma outcomes in adult and pediatric populations. Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health, and it impacts the lungs' innate and adaptive defense systems. A major pollutant in the air is particulate matter (PM), a complex component composed of elemental carbon and heavy metals. According to the WHO, 99% of people live in air pollution where air quality levels are lower than the WHO air quality guidelines. This suggests that the effect of air pollution exposure on asthma is a crucial health issue worldwide. Macrophages are essential in recognizing and processing any inhaled foreign material, such as PM. Alveolar macrophages are one of the predominant cell types that process and remove inhaled PM by secreting proinflammatory mediators from the lung. This review focuses on macrophages and their role in orchestrating the inflammatory responses induced by exposure to air pollutants in asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Hsiang Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung 801, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Lan Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ying (Clair) Chiou
- Teaching and Research Center of Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung 812, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ching Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Doctoral Degree Program in Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ting Liao
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (W.-T.L.); or (C.-H.H.); Tel.: +886-7-312-1101 (ext. 2791) (W.-T.L.); +886-7-311-5140 (C.-H.H.); Fax: +886-7-312-5339 (W.-T.L.); +886-7-321-3931 (C.-H.H.)
| | - Chih-Hsing Hung
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung 801, Taiwan
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung 812, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (W.-T.L.); or (C.-H.H.); Tel.: +886-7-312-1101 (ext. 2791) (W.-T.L.); +886-7-311-5140 (C.-H.H.); Fax: +886-7-312-5339 (W.-T.L.); +886-7-321-3931 (C.-H.H.)
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Ambient air pollution and prostate cancer risk in a population-based Canadian case-control study. Environ Epidemiol 2022; 6:e219. [PMID: 35975163 PMCID: PMC9374191 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Ambient air pollution is a human carcinogen and a possible risk factor for prostate cancer.
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Paciência I, Cavaleiro Rufo J, Moreira A. Environmental inequality: Air pollution and asthma in children. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2022; 33. [PMID: 35754123 DOI: 10.1111/pai.13818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Whether you benefit from high-quality urban environments, such as those rich in green and blue spaces, that may offer benefits to allergic and respiratory health depends on where you live and work. Environmental inequality, therefore, results from the unequal distribution of the risks and benefits that stem from interactions with our environment. METHODS Within this perspective, this article reviews the evidence for an association between air pollution caused by industrial activities, traffic, disinfection-by-products, and tobacco/e-cigarettes, and asthma in children. We also discuss the proposed mechanisms by which air pollution increases asthma risk, including environmental epigenetic regulations, oxidative stress, and damage, disrupted barrier integrity, inflammatory pathways, and enhancement of respiratory sensitization to aeroallergens. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Environmental air pollution is a major determinant of childhood asthma, but the magnitude of effect is not shared equally across the population, regions, and settings where people live, work, and spend their time. Improvement of the exposure assessment, a better understanding of critical exposure time windows, underlying mechanisms, and drivers of heterogeneity may improve the risk estimates. Urban conditions and air quality are not only important features for national and local authorities to shape healthy cities and protect their citizens from environmental and health risks, but they also provide opportunities to mitigate inequalities in the most deprived areas where the environmental burden is highest. Actions to avoid exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants should be complementary at different levels-individual, local, and national levels-to take effective measures to protect children who have little or no control over the air they breathe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Paciência
- EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal.,Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - João Cavaleiro Rufo
- EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - André Moreira
- EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal.,Serviço de Imunoalergologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, Porto, Portugal.,Basic and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Feo-Brito F, Alfaya Arias T, Amo-Salas M, Somoza Álvarez ML, Haroun Díaz E, Mayorga Mayorga C, Fernández Santamaría R, Urra Ardanaz JM. Clinical impact and immunological alterations in asthmatic patients allergic to grass pollen subjected to high urban pollution in Madrid. Clin Exp Allergy 2021; 52:530-539. [PMID: 34741765 DOI: 10.1111/cea.14041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of asthma has increased in recent decades. Among the reasons for this increase is environmental pollution. Pollutants cause bronchial inflammation and introduce modifications in the pollen, making it more allergenic. OBJECTIVE Assess symptoms and medication requirements of asthmatic patients with grass allergies in Madrid (high urban pollution) and Ciudad Real (low pollution), and simultaneously evaluate the in vitro effects that pollen collected in both areas has on the immune cells of patients. METHODS During two pollen seasons, patients from both cities were included. The patients recorded their symptoms and the asthma medication they took daily. In both cities, pollen data, pollutants and meteorological variables were evaluated. The response to different cell populations from patients in both areas were analysed after "in vitro" stimulation with pollen from both cities. RESULTS The symptoms and medication use of the patients in Madrid was 29.94% higher. The NO2 concentration in Madrid was triple that of Ciudad Real (33.4 vs. 9.1 µg/m3 of air). All other pollutants had very similar concentrations during the study period. Pollen from the high pollution area caused a significant enhancement of T-CD8+ and NK cells proliferation compared with pollen of low pollution area, independently of the patient's origin. CONCLUSION Asthmatic patients from Madrid have a worse clinical evolution than those from Ciudad Real because of higher levels of urban pollution, and this could be driven by the higher capacity of pollen of Madrid to activate T-CD8+ and NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Feo-Brito
- Allergy, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain.,Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | | | - Mariano Amo-Salas
- Facultad de Medicina de Ciudad Real, Departamento de Matemáticas, Universidad de Castilla La Mancha (UCLM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Rubén Fernández Santamaría
- Allergy Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Málaga, Spain.,Allergy Clinical Unit, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - José Miguel Urra Ardanaz
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Ciudad Real, Spain.,Immunology, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain
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Associations of Exposure to Nitrogen Oxides with Prevalent Asthma and Other Atopic Diseases in Israel. ENVIRONMENTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/environments8100110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Childhood exposure to nitrogen oxides (NOx) is considered a risk factor for the onset of asthma. However, associations of this exposure with other atopic diseases and factors that modify this association are less clear. We aimed to study associations between exposure to NOx and the prevalence of atopic diseases in Israeli adolescents using a cross-sectional design. The study population comprised all Israeli-born adolescents whose medical status was evaluated for mandatory military recruitment during 1967–2017 (n = 2,523,745), of whom 5.9% had prevalent asthma. We based the exposure assessments on a land-use regression model and estimated associations using multivariable logistic regression models. Across all periods, mean exposure to NOx from birth to adolescence was associated with prevalent asthma at the examination in a dose-response manner, with an odds ratio for the upper quintile of 1.61 (95% CI: 1.56–1.67), in comparison to the lowest quintile. Associations were stronger in males and in lower socioeconomic strata. We found the strongest associations for asthma with comorbid rhinitis, with an almost twofold increase in the odds of upper versus lower quintile of exposure (odds ratio = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.82–2.11). Rhino-conjunctivitis and allergic atopic dermatitis suggested a possible threshold level with NOx. Capsule Summary: Research indicates that half of the global population will suffer from an allergic condition at some point in life. Childhood exposure to nitrogen oxides is a risk factor for the onset of asthma. The association between exposure and allergic diseases other than asthma is unclear. We demonstrate a strong, dose-response relationship between exposure and a group of allergic outcomes, using data comprising 2.5 million subjects over 50 years. The large health benefits from clean air should motivate governments to prioritize mitigation measures.
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de Ferreyro Monticelli D, Santos JM, Goulart EV, Mill JG, Kumar P, Reis NC. A review on the role of dispersion and receptor models in asthma research. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 287:117529. [PMID: 34186501 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
There is substantial evidence that air pollution exposure is associated with asthma prevalence that affects millions of people worldwide. Air pollutant exposure can be determined using dispersion models and refined with receptor models. Dispersion models offer the advantage of giving spatially distributed outdoor pollutants concentration while the receptor models offer the source apportionment of specific chemical species. However, the use of dispersion and/or receptor models in asthma research requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving experts on air quality and respiratory diseases. Here, we provide a literature review on the role of dispersion and receptor models in air pollution and asthma research, their limitations, gaps and the way forward. We found that the methodologies used to incorporate atmospheric dispersion and receptor models in human health studies may vary considerably, and several of the studies overlook features such as indoor air pollution, model validation and subject pathway between indoor spaces. Studies also show contrasting results of relative risk or odds ratio for a health outcome, even using similar methodologies. Dispersion models are mostly used to estimate air pollution levels outside the subject's home, school or workplace; however, very few studies addressed the subject's routines or indoor/outdoor relationships. Conversely, receptor models are employed in regions where asthma incidence/prevalence is high or where a dispersion model has been previously used for this assessment. Road traffic (vehicle exhaust) and NOx are found to be the most targeted source and pollutant, respectively. Other key findings were the absence of a standard indicator, shortage of studies addressing VOC and UFP, and the shift toward chemical speciation of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi de Ferreyro Monticelli
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brazil
| | - Jane Meri Santos
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brazil.
| | - Elisa Valentim Goulart
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brazil
| | - José Geraldo Mill
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brazil
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Neyval Costa Reis
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brazil
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El Maghraby HM, Ismail NA, Hussein S, Sabbah NA, Abdallah AL. Interleukin 10 -1082 G/A Gene Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Bronchial Asthma in Children: A Single-Center Study. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2021; 41:385-390. [PMID: 34591718 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2021.0136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is the key regulator of immune responses preventing the undesirable exaggerated ones. Genetic variation in the promoter region of IL-10 may influence its serum level and contribute to susceptibility to bronchial asthma in children. This is a case-control study including 100 patients and 100 healthy control children who had undergone skin prick test, estimation of total IgE and serum level of IL-10 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism for IL-10 gene polymorphism. A significant association between IL-10 polymorphism and susceptibility to pediatric asthma was found. AA genotype represented (66%) of the patient group compared to (6%) only of the control group, while AG genotype was detected in 20% of patients and 4% of control. In contrast, wild genotype GG was found in 14% of patients and 90% of control with a highly statistically significant difference among both groups (P < 0.001). The serum level of IL-10 was significantly elevated in the GG genotype in comparison to other genotypes (P < 0.001), and it was negatively correlated with the severity of asthma among the studied pediatric asthmatic group (P < 0.001). In conclusion, IL-10 polymorphism may play an important role in the development of bronchial asthma in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanaa M El Maghraby
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Nagwan A Ismail
- Chest Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Samia Hussein
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Norhan A Sabbah
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Alshimaa L Abdallah
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
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Olsson D, Forsberg B, Bråbäck L, Geels C, Brandt J, Christensen JH, Frohn LM, Oudin A. Early childhood exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with increased risk of paediatric asthma: An administrative cohort study from Stockholm, Sweden. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 155:106667. [PMID: 34077855 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Asthma is a complex, heterogeneous disease and one of the most common chronic diseases among children. Exposure to ambient air pollution in early life and childhood may influence asthma aetiology, but it is uncertain which specific components of air pollution and exposure windows are of importance. The role of socio-economic status (SES) is also unclear. The aims of the present study are, therefore, to investigate how various exposure windows of different pollutants affect risk-induced asthma in early life and to explore the possible effect SES has on that relationship. METHODS The study population was constructed using register data on all singleton births in the greater Stockholm area between 2006 and 2013. Exposure to ambient black carbon (BC), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), primary organic carbon (pOC) secondary organic aerosols (SOA), secondary inorganic aerosols, and oxidative potential at the residential address was modelled as mean values for the entire pregnancy period, the first year of life and the first three years of life. Swedish national registers were used to define the outcome: asthma diagnosis assessed at hospital during the first six years of life. Hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were modelled with Cox proportional hazards model with age as the underlying time-scale, adjusting for relevant potential confounding variables. RESULTS An increased risk for developing childhood asthma was observed in association with exposure to PM2.5, pOC and SOA during the first three years of life. With an interquartile range increase in exposure, the HRs were 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01-1.10), 1.05 (95% CI: 1.02-1.09) and 1.02 (95% CI: 1.00-1.04), for PM2.5, pOC and SOA, respectively, in the fully adjusted models. Exposure during foetal life or the first year of life was not associated with asthma risk, and the other pollutants were not statistically significantly associated with increased risk. Furthermore, the increase in risk associated with PM2.5 and the components BC, pOC and SOA were stronger in areas with lower SES. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that exposure to air pollution during the first three years of life may increase the risk for asthma in early childhood. The findings further imply a possible increased vulnerability to air pollution-attributed asthma among low SES children.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Olsson
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Sweden
| | - Bertil Forsberg
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Sweden
| | - Lennart Bråbäck
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Sweden
| | - Camilla Geels
- Department of Environmental Science - Atmospheric Modelling, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Brandt
- Department of Environmental Science - Atmospheric Modelling, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Jesper H Christensen
- Department of Environmental Science - Atmospheric Modelling, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Lise M Frohn
- Department of Environmental Science - Atmospheric Modelling, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Anna Oudin
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Sweden.
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Monetizing the Burden of Childhood Asthma Due to Traffic Related Air Pollution in the Contiguous United States in 2010. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18157864. [PMID: 34360155 PMCID: PMC8345553 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18157864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) refers to the wide range of air pollutants emitted by traffic that are dispersed into the ambient air. Emerging evidence shows that TRAP can increase asthma incidence in children. Living with asthma can carry a huge financial burden for individuals and families due to direct and indirect medical expenses, which can include costs of hospitalization, medical visits, medication, missed school days, and loss of wages from missed workdays for caregivers. OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper is to estimate the economic impact of childhood asthma incident cases attributable to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a common traffic-related air pollutant in urban areas, in the United States at the state level. METHODS We calculate the direct and indirect costs of childhood asthma incident cases attributable to NO2 using previously published burden of disease estimates and per person asthma cost estimates. By multiplying the per person indirect and direct costs for each state with the NO2-attributable asthma incident cases in each state, we were able to estimate the total cost of childhood asthma cases attributable to NO2 in the United States. RESULTS The cost calculation estimates the total direct and indirect annual cost of childhood asthma cases attributable to NO2 in the year 2010 to be $178,900,138.989 (95% CI: $101,019,728.20-$256,980,126.65). The state with the highest cost burden is California with $24,501,859.84 (95% CI: $10,020,182.62-$38,982,261.250), and the state with the lowest cost burden is Montana with $88,880.12 (95% CI: $33,491.06-$144,269.18). CONCLUSION This study estimates the annual costs of childhood asthma incident cases attributable to NO2 and demonstrates the importance of conducting economic impacts studies of TRAP. It is important for policy-making institutions to focus on this problem by advocating and supporting more studies on TRAP's impact on the national economy and health, including these economic impact estimates in the decision-making process, and devising mitigation strategies to reduce TRAP and the population's exposure.
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Ewald B, Knibbs L, Marks G. Opportunity to reduce paediatric asthma in New South Wales through nitrogen dioxide control. Aust N Z J Public Health 2021; 45:400-402. [PMID: 34097338 DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.13111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The main sources of nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ), road vehicles and electricity generation, are currently in a period of technological change. We assessed the number of cases of childhood asthma in New South Wales that could be avoided by lowering exposure to NO2 by 25% from current levels. METHODS Health impact assessment calculations for each of the 128 local government areas were based on the population of children aged 2 to 14, the prevalence of asthma derived from the 2017 NSW health survey, NO2 exposure from a land-use regression model using satellite data, and risk estimates derived from two meta-analyses and one Australian study. RESULTS A 25% reduction in NO2 below current exposure would lead to between 2,597 and 12,286 fewer children with asthma in NSW. The wide range in these estimates reflects the variation in concentration-response functions used. CONCLUSIONS Even the lowest of these estimates would be a worthwhile reduction in this common childhood illness. Implications for public health: A 25% reduction in NO2 is ambitious, but it is achievable through improved vehicle exhaust standards, increasing electric vehicle numbers, and reform of the electricity sector. Current Australian ambient air quality standards for annual NO2 should be revised downwards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Ewald
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, New South Wales
| | - Luke Knibbs
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland
| | - Guy Marks
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales.,Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Science, Liverpool, New South Wales
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12
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Ewald B, Knibbs LD, Campbell R, Marks GB. Public health opportunities in the Australian air quality standards review. Aust N Z J Public Health 2020; 45:307-310. [DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.13060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ben Ewald
- Faculty of Medicine and Public Health University of Newcastle New South Wales
| | - Luke D. Knibbs
- School of Population Health The University of Queensland
| | - Rod Campbell
- The Australia Institute, Canberra Australian Capital Territory
| | - Guy B. Marks
- Respiratory and Environmental Epidemiology Group Woolcock Institute of Medical Research University of Sydney New South Wales
- South Western Sydney Clinical School University of New South Wales
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13
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Lau N, Smith MJ, Sarkar A, Gao Z. Effects of low exposure to traffic related air pollution on childhood asthma onset by age 10 years. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 191:110174. [PMID: 32919973 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Although NO2, a major traffic related air pollutant, has been associated with onset of childhood asthma, young children may be more susceptible to traffic related air pollution exposure compared to other individuals. We linked data from National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youths Cycle 1-5 (1994-2003) and the National Air Pollution Surveillance Program to determine the association between NO2 exposure and either early or late onset childhood asthma phenotypes. Children diagnosed with asthma from age 0-3 were defined as having early onset asthma. Children diagnosed with asthma from age 4-9 were defined as having late onset asthma. Mean NO2 exposure for each quartile was 6.31 ppb, 9.45 ppb, 11.83 ppb, and 17.9 ppb. Higher levels of NO2 exposure were more strongly associated with early childhood asthma (Quartile 3 OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.44, Quartile 4 OR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.27, 3.68) compared to the lowest level of NO2 exposure (Quartile 1). No such association was observed with risk of late childhood asthma onset. Asthma susceptibility to NO2 exposure may vary with the childhood developmental stage, and young children may be susceptible to NO2 exposure at levels well below national and international guidelines. Our study emphasizes the importance of considering the timing of childhood asthma onset in future studies and confirms the increased risk of early onset of childhood asthma associated even with relatively low NO2 exposure levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Lau
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Mary Jane Smith
- Discipline of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Atanu Sarkar
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Zhiwei Gao
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3V6, Canada.
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14
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Griffin S, Walker S, Sculpher M. Distributional cost effectiveness analysis of West Yorkshire low emission zone policies. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2020; 29:567-579. [PMID: 32003147 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Alternative strategies can reduce road vehicle emissions, with differential effects on exposure across population groups. We compare alternative strategies in West Yorkshire using a framework for economic evaluation that considers multiple perspectives and that takes account of the distribution of health outcomes. Exposure to pollutants by area is converted, via dose response relationships, into disease averted. Health benefits and National Health Service costs from diseases are estimated conditional on population demographics and index of multiple deprivation. The net health benefits from alternative strategies are expressed as distributions of quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE), which are compared using dominance criteria and societal aversion to health inequality. Net production is estimated from intervention costs and the effects of health improvement on production and consumption. Social care outcomes are estimated from health improvement among care recipients and changes in care expenditure. A switch to less polluting private vehicles is dominant in terms of the distribution of QALE and social care outcomes but not consumption. Inclusion of health inequality aversion alters the rank order compared with prioritisation on health maximisation. The results were sensitive to the magnitude of health opportunity costs, the level of inequality aversion, and the proportion of intervention cost that generates health opportunity cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Griffin
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York, UK
| | - Simon Walker
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York, UK
| | - Mark Sculpher
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York, UK
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15
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Johnson M, Brook JR, Brook RD, Oiamo TH, Luginaah I, Peters PA, Spence JD. Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Carotid Plaque Burden in a Canadian City With Low-Level Ambient Pollution. J Am Heart Assoc 2020; 9:e013400. [PMID: 32237976 PMCID: PMC7428640 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.119.013400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background The association between fine particulate matter and cardiovascular disease has been convincingly demonstrated. The role of traffic‐related air pollutants is less clear. To better understand the role of traffic‐related air pollutants in cardiovascular disease development, we examined associations between NO2, carotid atherosclerotic plaque, and cardiometabolic disorders associated with cardiovascular disease. Methods and Results Cross‐sectional analyses were conducted among 2227 patients (62.9±13.8 years; 49.5% women) from the Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Centre (SPARC) in London, Ontario, Canada. Total carotid plaque area measured by ultrasound, cardiometabolic disorders, and residential locations were provided by SPARC medical records. Long‐term outdoor residential NO2 concentrations were generated by a land use regression model. Associations between NO2, total carotid plaque area, and cardiometabolic disorders were examined using multiple regression models adjusted for age, sex, smoking, and socioeconomic status. Mean NO2 was 5.4±1.6 ppb in London, Ontario. NO2 was associated with a significant increase in plaque (3.4 mm2 total carotid plaque area per 1 ppb NO2), exhibiting a linear dose‐response. NO2 was also positively associated with triglycerides, total cholesterol, and the ratio of low‐ to high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.05). Diabetes mellitus mediated the relationship between NO2 and total carotid plaque area (P<0.05). Conclusions Our results demonstrate that even low levels of traffic‐related air pollutants are linked to atherosclerotic plaque burden, an association that may be partially attributable to pollution‐induced diabetes mellitus. Our findings suggest that reducing ambient concentrations in cities with NO2 below current standards would result in additional health benefits. Given the billions of people exposed to traffic emissions, our study supports the global public health significance of reducing air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markey Johnson
- Air Health Science Division Health Canada Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | - Jeffrey R Brook
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry University of Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Robert D Brook
- Department of Internal Medicine University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI
| | - Tor H Oiamo
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies Ryerson University Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Isaac Luginaah
- Department of Geography Western University London Ontario Canada
| | - Paul A Peters
- Department of Health Sciences Carleton University Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | - J David Spence
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Pharmacology Western University London Ontario Canada.,Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Centre Robarts Research Institute Western University London Ontario Canada
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16
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Hassoun Y, James C, Bernstein DI. The Effects of Air Pollution on the Development of Atopic Disease. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2020; 57:403-414. [PMID: 30806950 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-019-08730-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is defined as the presence of noxious substances in the air at levels that impose a health hazard. Thus, there has been long-standing interest in the possible role of indoor and outdoor air pollutants on the development of respiratory disease. In this regard, asthma has been of particular interest but many studies have also been conducted to explore the relationship between air pollution, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Traffic-related air pollutants or TRAP refers to a broad group of pollutants including elemental carbon, black soot, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitric oxide (NO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2). In this review, we aim to examine the current literature regarding the impact of early childhood exposure to TRAP on the development of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Although there is growing evidence suggesting significant associations, definitive conclusions cannot be made with regard to the effect of TRAP on these diseases. This conundrum may be due to a variety of factors, including different definitions used to define TRAP, case definitions under consideration, a limited number of studies, variation in study designs, and disparities between studies in consideration of confounding factors. Regardless, this review highlights the need for future studies to be conducted, particularly with birth cohorts that explore this relationship further. Such studies may assist in understanding more clearly the pathogenesis of these diseases, as well as other methods by which these diseases could be treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Hassoun
- Division of Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267-0563, USA
| | - Christine James
- Division of Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267-0563, USA
| | - David I Bernstein
- Division of Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267-0563, USA.
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17
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Goulier L, Paas B, Ehrnsperger L, Klemm O. Modelling of Urban Air Pollutant Concentrations with Artificial Neural Networks Using Novel Input Variables. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E2025. [PMID: 32204378 PMCID: PMC7143381 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17062025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Since operating urban air quality stations is not only time consuming but also costly, and because air pollutants can cause serious health problems, this paper presents the hourly prediction of ten air pollutant concentrations (CO2, NH3, NO, NO2, NOx, O3, PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and PN10) in a street canyon in Münster using an artificial neural network (ANN) approach. Special attention was paid to comparing three predictor options representing the traffic volume: we included acoustic sound measurements (sound), the total number of vehicles (traffic), and the hour of the day and the day of the week (time) as input variables and then compared their prediction powers. The models were trained, validated and tested to evaluate their performance. Results showed that the predictions of the gaseous air pollutants NO, NO2, NOx, and O3 reveal very good agreement with observations, whereas predictions for particle concentrations and NH3 were less successful, indicating that these models can be improved. All three input variable options (sound, traffic and time) proved to be suitable and showed distinct strengths for modelling various air pollutant concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Goulier
- Climatology Research Group, University of Münster, Heisenbergstraße 2, 48149 Münster, Germany; (B.P.); (L.E.); (O.K.)
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18
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Fuertes E, Sunyer J, Gehring U, Porta D, Forastiere F, Cesaroni G, Vrijheid M, Guxens M, Annesi-Maesano I, Slama R, Maier D, Kogevinas M, Bousquet J, Chatzi L, Lertxundi A, Basterrechea M, Esplugues A, Ferrero A, Wright J, Mason D, McEachan R, Garcia-Aymerich J, Jacquemin B. Associations between air pollution and pediatric eczema, rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma: A meta-analysis of European birth cohorts. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 136:105474. [PMID: 31962272 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uncertainly continues to exist regarding the role of air pollution on pediatric asthma and allergic conditions, especially as air pollution levels have started to decrease in recent decades. OBJECTIVE We examined associations of long-term air pollution levels at the home address with pediatric eczema, rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma prevalences in five birth cohorts (BIB, EDEN, GASPII, RHEA and INMA) from seven areas in five European countries. METHODS Current eczema, rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma were assessed in children aged four (N = 6527) and eight years (N = 2489). A multi-morbidity outcome (≥2 conditions versus none) was also defined. Individual outdoor levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides, mass of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm (PM10), 10-2.5 μm (PMcoarse) and <2.5 μm (PM2.5), and PM2.5 absorbance were assigned to the birth, four- and eight-year home addresses using highly defined spatial air pollution exposure models. Cohort-specific cross-sectional associations were assessed using logistic regression models adjusted for demographic and environmental covariates and combined in a random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS The overall prevalence of pediatric eczema, rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma at four years was 15.4%, 5.9% and 12.4%. We found no increase in the prevalence of these outcomes at four or eight years with increasing air pollution exposure. For example, the meta-analysis adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for eczema, rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma at four years were 0.94 (0.81, 1.09), 0.90 (0.75, 1.09), and 0.91 (0.74, 1.11), respectively, per 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 at the birth address, and 1.00 (0.81, 1.23), 0.70 (0.49, 1.00) and 0.88 (0.54, 1.45), respectively, per 5 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 at the birth address. DISCUSSION In this large meta-analysis of five birth cohorts, we found no indication of adverse effects of long-term air pollution exposure on the prevalence of current pediatric eczema, rhinoconjunctivitis or asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Fuertes
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain.
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ulrike Gehring
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Daniela Porta
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Forastiere
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Cesaroni
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Mònica Guxens
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Isabella Annesi-Maesano
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Department (EPAR), Saint-Antoine Medical School, Paris, France
| | - Rémy Slama
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Manolis Kogevinas
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jean Bousquet
- Hopital Arnaud de Villeneuve University Hospital and Inserm, Montpellier, France
| | - Leda Chatzi
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Aitana Lertxundi
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain; Health Research Institute-BIODONOSTIA, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Mikel Basterrechea
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Health Research Institute-BIODONOSTIA, Basque Country, Spain; Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Ana Esplugues
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, 46020 València, Spain; Faculty of Nursing, University of Valencia, València, Spain
| | - Amparo Ferrero
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, 46020 València, Spain
| | - John Wright
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, United Kingdom
| | - Dan Mason
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, United Kingdom
| | - Rosie McEachan
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, United Kingdom
| | - Judith Garcia-Aymerich
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Bénédicte Jacquemin
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; INSERM, U1168, VIMA: Aging and Chronic Diseases, Epidemiological and Public Health Approaches, Villejuif, France; Université Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, UMR-S 1168, F-78180 Montigny le Bretonneux, France; Université Rennes, INSERM, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
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19
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To T, Zhu J, Stieb D, Gray N, Fong I, Pinault L, Jerrett M, Robichaud A, Ménard R, van Donkelaar A, Martin RV, Hystad P, Brook JR, Dell S. Early life exposure to air pollution and incidence of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema. Eur Respir J 2020; 55:13993003.00913-2019. [PMID: 31806712 PMCID: PMC7031706 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00913-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Rationale There is growing evidence that air pollution may contribute to the development of childhood asthma and other allergic diseases. In this follow-up of the Toronto Child Health Evaluation Questionnaire (T-CHEQ) study, we examined associations between early life exposures to air pollution and incidence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema from birth through adolescence. Methods 1286 T-CHEQ participants were followed from birth until outcome (March 31, 2016) or loss to follow-up, with a mean of 17 years of follow-up. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and particulate matter with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 µm (PM2.5) from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2012 were assigned to participants based on their postal codes at birth using ground observations, chemical/meteorological models, remote sensing and land-use regression models. Study outcomes included incidence of physician-diagnosed asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios per interquartile range of exposures and outcomes, adjusting for potential confounders. Results Hazard ratios of 1.17 (95% CI 1.05–1.31) for asthma and 1.07 (95% CI 0.99–1.15) for eczema were observed for total oxidants (O3 and NO2) at birth. No significant increase in risk was found for PM2.5. Conclusions Exposures to oxidant air pollutants (O3 and NO2) but not PM2.5 were associated with an increased risk of incident asthma and eczema in children. This suggests that improving air quality may contribute to the prevention of asthma and other allergic disease in childhood and adolescence. This study found that exposure to total oxidants at birth increased the risk of developing asthma by 17% and eczema by 7%. Adverse impacts of exposure to air pollutants, particularly ozone and nitrogen dioxide, may have their origins in early life.http://bit.ly/33PClYN
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa To
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada .,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jingqin Zhu
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dave Stieb
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Natasha Gray
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ivy Fong
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lauren Pinault
- Analytical Studies Branch, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Jerrett
- Fielding School of Public Health, The University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alain Robichaud
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dorval, QC, Canada
| | - Richard Ménard
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dorval, QC, Canada
| | - Aaron van Donkelaar
- Dept of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Dept of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Randall V Martin
- Dept of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Dept of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA.,Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Perry Hystad
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Brook
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sharon Dell
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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20
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The Role and Potential Pathogenic Mechanism of Particulate Matter in Childhood Asthma: A Review and Perspective. J Immunol Res 2020; 2020:8254909. [PMID: 32411804 PMCID: PMC7201641 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8254909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthma, the most common chronic respiratory disease in children, affects numerous people worldwide. Accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to high levels of particulate matter (PM), either acutely or chronically, is associated with the exacerbation and incidence of pediatric asthma. However, the detailed pathogenic mechanisms by which PM contributes to the incidence of asthma remain largely unknown. In this short review, we summarize studies of relationships between PM and pediatric asthma and recent advances on the fundamental mechanisms of PM-related asthma, with emphases on cell death regulation and immune system responses. We further discuss the inadequacy of current studies and give a perspective on the prevention strategies for pediatric asthma.
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21
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Salm AK, Benson MJ. Increased Dementia Mortality in West Virginia Counties with Mountaintop Removal Mining? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16214278. [PMID: 31689936 PMCID: PMC6862248 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16214278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is elevated in areas of mountaintop removal mining (MTM), a practice that has been ongoing in some counties of West Virginia (WV) USA since the 1970s. PM inhalation has been linked to central nervous system pathophysiology, including cognitive decline and dementia. Here we compared county dementia mortality statistics in MTM vs. non-MTM WV counties over a period spanning 2001–2015. We found significantly elevated age-adjusted vascular or unspecified dementia mortality/100,000 population in WV MTM counties where, after adjusting for socioeconomic variables, dementia mortality was 15.60 (±3.14 Standard Error of the Mean (S.E.M.)) times higher than that of non-MTM counties. Further analyses with satellite imaging data revealed a highly significant positive correlation between the number of distinct mining sites vs. both mean and cumulative vascular and unspecified dementia mortality over the 15 year period. This was in contrast to finding only a weak relationship between dementia mortality rates and the overall square kilometers mined. No effect of living in an MTM county was found for the rate of Alzheimer’s type dementia and possible reasons for this are considered. Based on these results, and the current literature, we hypothesize that inhalation of PM associated with MTM contributes to dementia mortality of the vascular or unspecified types. However, limitations inherent in ecological-type studies such as this, preclude definitive extrapolation to individuals in MTM-counties at this time. We hope these findings will inspire follow-up cohort and case-controlled type studies to determine if specific causative factors associated with living near MTM can be identified. Given the need for caregiving and medical support, increased dementia mortality of the magnitude seen here could, unfortunately, place great demands upon MTM county public health resources in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Salm
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Laboratory Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
| | - Michael J Benson
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
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22
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Muñoz X, Barreiro E, Bustamante V, Lopez-Campos JL, González-Barcala FJ, Cruz MJ. Diesel exhausts particles: Their role in increasing the incidence of asthma. Reviewing the evidence of a causal link. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 652:1129-1138. [PMID: 30586799 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to air pollutants has been correlated with an increase in the severity of asthma and in the exacerbation of pre-existing asthma. However, whether or not environmental pollution can cause asthma remains a controversial issue. The present review analyzes the current scientific evidence of the possible causal link between diesel exhaust particles (DEP), the solid fraction of the complex mixture of diesel exhaust, and asthma. The mechanisms that influence the expression and development of asthma are complex. In children prolonged exposure to pollutants such as DEPs may increase asthma prevalence. In adults, this causal relation is less clear, probably because of the heterogeneity of the studies carried out. There is also evidence of physiological mechanisms by which DEPs can cause asthma. The most frequently described interactions between cellular responses and DEP are the induction of pulmonary oxidative stress and inflammation and the activation of receptors of the bronchial epithelium such as toll-like receptors or increases in Th2 and Th17 cytokines, which generally orchestrate the asthmatic response. Others support indirect mechanisms through epigenetic changes, pulmonary microbiome modifications, or the interaction of DEP with environmental antigens to enhance their activity. However, in spite of this evidence, more studies are needed to assess the harmful effects of pollution - not only in the short term in the form of increases in the rate of exacerbations, but in the medium and long term as well, as a possible trigger of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Muñoz
- Pulmonology Service, Medicine Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - E Barreiro
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Pulmonology Department-Muscle Research and Respiratory System Unit (URMAR), Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM)-Hospital del Mar, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (CEXS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - V Bustamante
- Pneumology Department, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Osakidetza/University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain
| | - J L Lopez-Campos
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Unidad Médico-quirúrgica de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - F J González-Barcala
- Respiratory Department, Clinic University Hospital, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - M J Cruz
- Pulmonology Service, Medicine Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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23
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A Cost-Effective Air Quality Supervision Solution for Enhanced Living Environments through the Internet of Things. ELECTRONICS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/electronics8020170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
We spend about 90% of our lives in indoor living environments. Thus, it is essential to provide indoor air quality monitoring for enhanced living environments. Advances in networking, sensors, and embedded devices have made monitoring and supply of assistance possible to people in their homes. Technological advancements have made possible the building of smart devices with significant capabilities for sensing and connecting, but also provide several improvements in ambient assisted living system architectures. Indoor air quality assumes an important role in building productive and healthy indoor environments. In this paper, the authors present an Internet of Things system for real-time indoor air quality monitoring named iAir. This system is composed by an ESP8266 as the communication and processing unit and a MICS-6814 sensor as the sensing unit. The MICS-6814 is a metal oxide semiconductor sensor capable of detecting several gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ethanol, methane, and propane. The iAir system also provides a smartphone application for data consulting and real-time notifications. Compared to other solutions, the iAir system is based on open-source technologies and operates as a totally Wi-Fi system, with several advantages such as its modularity, scalability, low cost, and easy installation. The results obtained are very promising, representing a meaningful contribution for enhanced living environments as iAir provides real-time monitoring for enhanced ambient assisted living and occupational health.
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Nayeb Yazdi M, Arhami M, Delavarrafiee M, Ketabchy M. Developing air exchange rate models by evaluating vehicle in-cabin air pollutant exposures in a highway and tunnel setting: case study of Tehran, Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:501-513. [PMID: 30406592 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3611-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The passengers inside vehicles could be exposed to high levels of air pollutants particularly while driving on highly polluted and congested traffic roadways. In order to study such exposure levels and its relation to the cabin ventilation condition, a monitoring campaign was conducted to measure the levels inside the three most common types of vehicles in Tehran, Iran (a highly air polluted megacity). In this regard, carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) were measured for various ventilation settings, window positions, and vehicle speeds while driving on the Resalat Highway and through the Resalat Tunnel. Results showed on average in-cabin exposure to particle number and PM10 for the open windows condition was seven times greater when compared to closed windows and air conditioning on. When the vehicle was passing through the tunnel, in-cabin CO and particle number increased 100 and 30%, respectively, compared to driving on highway. Air exchange rate (AER) is a significant factor when evaluating in-cabin air pollutants level. AER was measured and simulated by a model developed through a Monte Carlo analysis of uncertainty and considering two main affecting variables, vehicle speed and fan speed. The lowest AER was 7 h-1 for the closed window and AC on conditions, whereas the highest AER was measured 70 h-1 for an open window condition and speed of 90 km h-1. The results of our study can assist policy makers in controlling in-cabin pollutant exposure and in planning effective strategies for the protection of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Nayeb Yazdi
- Department of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Avenue, P.O. Box 11365-8639, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Mohammad Arhami
- Department of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Avenue, P.O. Box 11365-8639, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maryam Delavarrafiee
- Department of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Avenue, P.O. Box 11365-8639, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Mehdi Ketabchy
- Department of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Avenue, P.O. Box 11365-8639, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Transportation Business Line, Gannett Fleming, Fairfax, USA
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Knibbs LD, Cortés de Waterman AM, Toelle BG, Guo Y, Denison L, Jalaludin B, Marks GB, Williams GM. The Australian Child Health and Air Pollution Study (ACHAPS): A national population-based cross-sectional study of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, asthma, and lung function. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 120:394-403. [PMID: 30125857 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Most studies of long-term air pollution exposure and children's respiratory health have been performed in urban locations with moderate pollution levels. We assessed the effect of outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2), as a proxy for urban air pollution, on current asthma and lung function in Australia, a low-pollution setting. We undertook a national population-based cross-sectional study of children aged 7-11 years living in 12 Australian cities. We collected information on asthma symptoms from parents via questionnaire and measured children's lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC]) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO]). We estimated recent NO2 exposure (last 12 months) using monitors near each child's school, and used a satellite-based land-use regression (LUR) model to estimate NO2 at each child's school and home. Our analysis comprised 2630 children, among whom the prevalence of current asthma was 14.9%. Mean (±SD) NO2 exposure was 8.8 ppb (±3.2) and 8.8 ppb (±2.3) for monitor- and LUR-based estimates, respectively. Mean percent predicted post-bronchodilator FEV1 and FVC were 101.7% (±10.5) and 98.8% (±10.5), respectively. The geometric mean FeNO concentration was 9.4 ppb (±7.1). An IQR increase in NO2 (4.0 ppb) was significantly associated with increased odds of having current asthma; odds ratios (ORs) were 1.24 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.43) and 1.54 (95% CI: 1.26, 1.87) for monitor- and LUR-based estimates, respectively. Increased NO2 exposure was significantly associated with decreased percent predicted FEV1 (-1.35 percentage points [95% CI: -2.21, -0.49]) and FVC (-1.19 percentage points [95% CI: -2.04, -0.35], and an increase in FeNO of 71% (95% CI: 38%, 112%). Exposure to outdoor NO2 was associated with adverse respiratory health effects in this population-based sample of Australian children. The relatively low NO2 levels at which these effects were observed highlight the potential benefits of continuous exposure reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke D Knibbs
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia.
| | | | - Brett G Toelle
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Yuming Guo
- Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Lyn Denison
- ERM Services Australia, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Bin Jalaludin
- Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia; Population Health, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; Ingham Institute, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
| | - Guy B Marks
- Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia; Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; South Western Sydney Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
| | - Gail M Williams
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
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Lai VWY, Bowatte G, Knibbs LD, Rangamuwa K, Young A, Dharmage S, Thien F. Residential NO 2 exposure is associated with urgent healthcare use in a thunderstorm asthma cohort. Asia Pac Allergy 2018; 8:e33. [PMID: 30402400 PMCID: PMC6209594 DOI: 10.5415/apallergy.2018.8.e33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is increasing interest in the role of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) in allergic airway diseases. Few studies investigate the relationship between TRAP exposure and acute exacerbations of asthma. Objective The 2016 Melbourne thunderstorm asthma epidemic provided an opportunity to investigate the relationship between proxies of TRAP exposure and asthma exacerbation requiring urgent healthcare in the previous 12 months. Methods Current asthmatics who presented to the 3 Emergency Departments of Melbourne's second-largest health service with epidemic thunderstorm asthma in November 2016 were identified and completed a standard questionnaire. Their residential addresses were geocoded and the annual average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure for each patient was assigned using a validated satellite-based land use regression model. Residential distance to the nearest major road was calculated using ArcGIS. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between each TRAP proxy and healthcare use, adjusting for potential confounders. Results From 263 thunderstorm asthma patients, 88 patients identified with current asthma were analysed. Those with higher mean annual residential NO2 exposure had greater odds of urgent healthcare use in the previous year (odds ratio [OR], 3.45 per one interquartile-range increase; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31–9.10; p = 0.01), however distance from major road (OR, 0.95 per 100-m increase; 95% CI, 0.80–1.13; p = 0.57) and living <200 m from a major road (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.29–7.45; p = 0.64) were not significantly associated. Conclusion In current asthmatics who presented during an epidemic thunderstorm asthma event, greater exposure to residential NO2 was significantly associated with greater odds of asthma exacerbations requiring urgent healthcare in the previous 12 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Wai Yun Lai
- Monash School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Gayan Bowatte
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Luke David Knibbs
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Alan Young
- Monash School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Box Hill Hospital, Eastern Health, Box Hill, VIC, Australia
| | - Shyamali Dharmage
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Francis Thien
- Monash School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Box Hill Hospital, Eastern Health, Box Hill, VIC, Australia
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Anenberg SC, Henze DK, Tinney V, Kinney PL, Raich W, Fann N, Malley CS, Roman H, Lamsal L, Duncan B, Martin RV, van Donkelaar A, Brauer M, Doherty R, Jonson JE, Davila Y, Sudo K, Kuylenstierna JCI. Estimates of the Global Burden of Ambient [Formula: see text], Ozone, and [Formula: see text] on Asthma Incidence and Emergency Room Visits. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2018; 126:107004. [PMID: 30392403 PMCID: PMC6371661 DOI: 10.1289/ehp3766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma is the most prevalent chronic respiratory disease worldwide, affecting 358 million people in 2015. Ambient air pollution exacerbates asthma among populations around the world and may also contribute to new-onset asthma. OBJECTIVES We aimed to estimate the number of asthma emergency room visits and new onset asthma cases globally attributable to fine particulate matter ([Formula: see text]), ozone, and nitrogen dioxide ([Formula: see text]) concentrations. METHODS We used epidemiological health impact functions combined with data describing population, baseline asthma incidence and prevalence, and pollutant concentrations. We constructed a new dataset of national and regional emergency room visit rates among people with asthma using published survey data. RESULTS We estimated that 9–23 million and 5–10 million annual asthma emergency room visits globally in 2015 could be attributable to ozone and [Formula: see text], respectively, representing 8–20% and 4–9% of the annual number of global visits, respectively. The range reflects the application of central risk estimates from different epidemiological meta-analyses. Anthropogenic emissions were responsible for [Formula: see text] and 73% of ozone and [Formula: see text] impacts, respectively. Remaining impacts were attributable to naturally occurring ozone precursor emissions (e.g., from vegetation, lightning) and [Formula: see text] (e.g., dust, sea salt), though several of these sources are also influenced by humans. The largest impacts were estimated in China and India. CONCLUSIONS These findings estimate the magnitude of the global asthma burden that could be avoided by reducing ambient air pollution. We also identified key uncertainties and data limitations to be addressed to enable refined estimation. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3766.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan C Anenberg
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Daven K Henze
- University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Veronica Tinney
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Patrick L Kinney
- School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - William Raich
- Industrial Economics, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Neal Fann
- Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Henry Roman
- Industrial Economics, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lok Lamsal
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Bryan Duncan
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Randall V Martin
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Michael Brauer
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Yanko Davila
- University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Kengo Sudo
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokohama, Japan
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Early-Life Air Pollution Exposure, Neighborhood Poverty, and Childhood Asthma in the United States, 1990⁻2014. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15061114. [PMID: 29848979 PMCID: PMC6025399 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15061114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Ambient air pollution is a well-known risk factor of various asthma-related outcomes, however, past research has often focused on acute exacerbations rather than asthma development. This study draws on a population-based, multigenerational panel dataset from the United States to assess the association of childhood asthma risk with census block-level, annual-average air pollution exposure measured during the prenatal and early postnatal periods, as well as effect modification by neighborhood poverty. Findings suggest that early-life exposures to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a marker of traffic-related pollution, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a mixture of industrial and other pollutants, are positively associated with subsequent childhood asthma diagnosis (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.10–1.41 and OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.06–1.46, respectively, per interquartile range (IQR) increase in each pollutant (NO2 IQR = 8.51 ppb and PM2.5 IQR = 4.43 µ/m3)). These effects are modified by early-life neighborhood poverty exposure, with no or weaker effects in moderate- and low- (versus high-) poverty areas. This work underscores the importance of a holistic, developmental approach to elucidating the interplay of social and environmental contexts that may create conditions for racial-ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in childhood asthma risk.
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Bose S, Chiu YHM, Hsu HHL, Di Q, Rosa MJ, Lee A, Kloog I, Wilson A, Schwartz J, Wright RO, Cohen S, Coull BA, Wright RJ. Prenatal Nitrate Exposure and Childhood Asthma. Influence of Maternal Prenatal Stress and Fetal Sex. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2017; 196:1396-1403. [PMID: 28661182 PMCID: PMC5736975 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201702-0421oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Impact of ambient pollution upon children's asthma may differ by sex, and exposure dose and timing. Psychosocial stress can also modify pollutant effects. These associations have not been examined for in utero ambient nitrate exposure. OBJECTIVES We implemented Bayesian-distributed lag interaction models to identify sensitive prenatal windows for the influence of nitrate (NO3-) on child asthma, accounting for effect modification by sex and stress. METHODS Analyses included 752 mother-child dyads. Daily ambient NO3- exposure during pregnancy was derived using a hybrid chemical transport (Geos-Chem)/land-use regression model and natural log transformed. Prenatal maternal stress was indexed by a negative life events score (high [>2] vs. low [≤2]). The outcome was clinician-diagnosed asthma by age 6 years. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Most mothers were Hispanic (54%) or black (29%), had a high school education or less (66%), never smoked (80%), and reported low prenatal stress (58%); 15% of children developed asthma. BDILMs adjusted for maternal age, race, education, prepregnancy obesity, atopy, and smoking status identified two sensitive windows (7-19 and 33-40 wk gestation), during which increased NO3- was associated with greater odds of asthma, specifically among boys born to mothers reporting high prenatal stress. Cumulative effects of NO3- across pregnancy were also significant in this subgroup (odds ratio = 2.64, 95% confidence interval = 1.27-5.39; per interquartile range increase in ln NO3-). CONCLUSIONS Prenatal NO3- exposure during distinct sensitive windows was associated with incident asthma in boys concurrently exposed to high prenatal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali Bose
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
- Department of Pediatrics
| | | | | | - Qian Di
- Department of Environmental Health and
| | | | - Alison Lee
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
| | - Itai Kloog
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, BeerSheba, Israel
| | - Ander Wilson
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; and
| | | | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, and
- Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Sheldon Cohen
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Brent A. Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rosalind J. Wright
- Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, and
- Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
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Khreis H, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ. Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Childhood Asthma: Recent Advances and Remaining Gaps in the Exposure Assessment Methods. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14030312. [PMID: 28304360 PMCID: PMC5369148 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14030312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Background: Current levels of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) are associated with the development of childhood asthma, although some inconsistencies and heterogeneity remain. An important part of the uncertainty in studies of TRAP-associated asthma originates from uncertainties in the TRAP exposure assessment and assignment methods. In this work, we aim to systematically review the exposure assessment methods used in the epidemiology of TRAP and childhood asthma, highlight recent advances, remaining research gaps and make suggestions for further research. Methods: We systematically reviewed epidemiological studies published up until 8 September 2016 and available in Embase, Ovid MEDLINE (R), and “Transport database”. We included studies which examined the association between children’s exposure to TRAP metrics and their risk of “asthma” incidence or lifetime prevalence, from birth to the age of 18 years old. Results: We found 42 studies which examined the associations between TRAP and subsequent childhood asthma incidence or lifetime prevalence, published since 1999. Land-use regression modelling was the most commonly used method and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was the most commonly used pollutant in the exposure assessments. Most studies estimated TRAP exposure at the residential address and only a few considered the participants’ mobility. TRAP exposure was mostly assessed at the birth year and only a few studies considered different and/or multiple exposure time windows. We recommend that further work is needed including e.g., the use of new exposure metrics such as the composition of particulate matter, oxidative potential and ultra-fine particles, improved modelling e.g., by combining different exposure assessment models, including mobility of the participants, and systematically investigating different exposure time windows. Conclusions: Although our previous meta-analysis found statistically significant associations for various TRAP exposures and subsequent childhood asthma, further refinement of the exposure assessment may improve the risk estimates, and shed light on critical exposure time windows, putative agents, underlying mechanisms and drivers of heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haneen Khreis
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
- Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT Leeds, UK.
| | - Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
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Khreis H, Kelly C, Tate J, Parslow R, Lucas K, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution and risk of development of childhood asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2017; 100:1-31. [PMID: 27881237 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 398] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The question of whether children's exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) contributes to their development of asthma is unresolved. We conducted a systematic review and performed meta-analyses to analyze the association between TRAP and asthma development in childhood. DATA SOURCES We systematically reviewed epidemiological studies published until 8 September 2016 and available in the Embase, Ovid MEDLINE (R), and Transport databases. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS We included studies that examined the association between children's exposure to TRAP metrics and their risk of 'asthma' incidence or lifetime prevalence, from birth to age 18years old. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS We extracted key characteristics of each included study using a predefined data items template and these were tabulated. We used the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists to assess the validity of each included study. Where four or more independent risk estimates were available for a continuous pollutant exposure, we conducted overall and age-specific meta-analyses, and four sensitivity analyses for each summary meta-analytic exposure-outcome association. RESULTS Forty-one studies met our eligibility criteria. There was notable variability in asthma definitions, TRAP exposure assessment methods and confounder adjustment. The overall random-effects risk estimates (95% CI) were 1.08 (1.03, 1.14) per 0.5×10-5m-1 black carbon (BC), 1.05 (1.02, 1.07) per 4μg/m3 nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 1.48 (0.89, 2.45) per 30μg/m3 nitrogen oxides (NOx), 1.03 (1.01, 1.05) per 1μg/m3 Particulate Matter <2.5μm in diameter (PM2.5), and 1.05 (1.02, 1.08) per 2μg/m3 Particulate Matter <10μm in diameter (PM10). Sensitivity analyses supported these findings. Across the main analysis and age-specific analysis, the least heterogeneity was seen for the BC estimates, some heterogeneity for the PM2.5 and PM10 estimates and the most heterogeneity for the NO2 and NOx estimates. LIMITATIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATION OF KEY FINDINGS The overall risk estimates from the meta-analyses showed statistically significant associations for BC, NO2, PM2.5, PM10 exposures and risk of asthma development. Our findings support the hypothesis that childhood exposure to TRAP contributes to their development of asthma. Future meta-analyses would benefit from greater standardization of study methods including exposure assessment harmonization, outcome harmonization, confounders' harmonization and the inclusion of all important confounders in individual studies. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO 2014: CRD42014015448.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haneen Khreis
- Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
| | - Charlotte Kelly
- Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom; Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - James Tate
- Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Roger Parslow
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Lucas
- Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal CREAL, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Slovic AD, Diniz CS, Ribeiro H. Clean air matters: an overview of traffic-related air pollution and pregnancy. Rev Saude Publica 2017; 51:5. [PMID: 28225911 PMCID: PMC5308554 DOI: 10.1590/s1518-8787.2017051006652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The right to a healthy pregnancy and to giving birth in a safe environment is source of comprehensive research. Decent birth facilities, respect, and no discrimination are already recognized as fundamental rights, but an accurate look at the outdoor environment is required. Air pollution is a dangerous factor to pregnant women and newborns, many of whom highly exposed to traffic-related atmospheric pollutants in urban areas. Such exposure can lead to low birth weight and long-lasting effects, such as respiratory diseases and premature death. Thus, this commentary, based on the analysis of literature, presents the importance of the exposome concept and of epigenetics in identifying the role of the environment for better health conditions of pregnant women and newborns. In the final considerations, this study proposes the deepening of the subject and the mobilization in this regard, with a human rights-based approach to environmental health and to the increased awareness of pregnant women on the risks of air pollution and its effects on health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Dorothée Slovic
- Departamento de Saúde Ambiental. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Carmen Simone Diniz
- Departamento de Saúde, Ciclos de Vida e Sociedade. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Helena Ribeiro
- Departamento de Saúde Ambiental. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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Adams DR, Ajmani GS, Pun VC, Wroblewski KE, Kern DW, Schumm LP, McClintock MK, Suh HH, Pinto JM. Nitrogen dioxide pollution exposure is associated with olfactory dysfunction in older U.S. adults. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2016; 6:1245-1252. [PMID: 27620703 PMCID: PMC5554588 DOI: 10.1002/alr.21829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olfactory dysfunction has profound effects on quality of life, physical and social function, and mortality itself. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) is a pervasive air pollutant that is associated with respiratory diseases. Given the olfactory nerve's anatomic exposure to airborne pollutants, we investigated the relationship between NO2 exposure and olfactory dysfunction. METHODS The ability to identify odors was evaluated using a validated test in respondents from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), a representative probability sample of home-dwelling, older U.S. adults age 57 to 85 years. Exposure to NO2 pollution was assessed using measurements obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) ambient monitoring site closest to each respondent's home. We tested the association between NO2 exposure and olfactory dysfunction using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS Among older adults in the United States, 22.6% had impaired olfactory function, defined as ≤3 correct (out of 5) on the odor identification test. Median NO2 exposure during the 365 days prior to the interview date was 14.7 ppb (interquartile range [IQR], 10.8 to 19.7 ppb). An IQR increase in NO2 exposure was associated with increased odds of olfactory dysfunction (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.72), adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, cognition, comorbidity, smoking, and season of the home interview (n = 1823). CONCLUSION We show for the first time that NO2 exposure is associated with olfactory dysfunction in older U.S. adults. These results suggest an important role for NO2 exposure on olfactory dysfunction, and, potentially, nasal disease more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dara R. Adams
- Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Gaurav S. Ajmani
- Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Vivian C. Pun
- Department of Health Sciences, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - David W. Kern
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - L. Philip Schumm
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Martha K. McClintock
- Department of Comparative Human Development and the Institute for Mind and Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Helen H. Suh
- Department of Health Sciences, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jayant M. Pinto
- Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Sheehan MC, Lam J, Navas-Acien A, Chang HH. Ambient air pollution epidemiology systematic review and meta-analysis: A review of reporting and methods practice. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2016; 92-93:647-56. [PMID: 26923218 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) are increasingly employed in environmental health (EH) epidemiology and, provided methods and reporting are sound, contribute to translating science evidence to policy. Ambient air pollution (AAP) is both among the leading environmental causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and of growing policy relevance due to health co-benefits associated with greenhouse gas emissions reductions. OBJECTIVES We reviewed the published AAP SRMA literature (2009 to mid-2015), and evaluated the consistency of methods, reporting and evidence evaluation using a 22-point questionnaire developed from available best-practice consensus guidelines and emerging recommendations for EH. Our goal was to contribute to enhancing the utility of AAP SRMAs to EH policy. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION We identified 43 studies that used both SR and MA techniques to examine associations between the AAPs PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO and O3, and various health outcomes. On average AAP SRMAs partially or thoroughly addressed 16 of 22 questions (range 10-21), and thoroughly addressed 13 of 22 (range 5-19). We found evidence of an improving trend over the period. However, we observed some weaknesses, particularly infrequent formal reviews of underlying study quality and risk-of-bias that correlated with lower frequency of thorough evaluation for key study quality parameters. Several other areas for enhanced reporting are highlighted. CONCLUSIONS The AAP SRMA literature, in particular more recent studies, indicate broad concordance with current and emerging best practice guidance. Development of an EH-specific SRMA consensus statement including a risk-of-bias evaluation tool, would be a contribution to enhanced reliability and robustness as well as policy utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Sheehan
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States.
| | - Juleen Lam
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of OB/GYN & RS, University of California, San Francisco, United States.
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Environmental Health Sciences Department, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States.
| | - Howard H Chang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, United States.
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Kenagy HS, Lin C, Wu H, Heal MR. Greater nitrogen dioxide concentrations at child versus adult breathing heights close to urban main road kerbside. AIR QUALITY, ATMOSPHERE, & HEALTH 2016; 9:589-595. [PMID: 27547272 PMCID: PMC4972848 DOI: 10.1007/s11869-015-0370-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a ubiquitous air pollutant with high concentrations particularly close to main roads. The focus of this study was on possible differences in NO2 concentrations between adult and child heights as a function of different distances from heavily trafficked roads in urban areas. Passive diffusion tubes were used to measure NO2 concentrations at heights of 0.8 m (approximate inhalation height of children and closer to vehicle exhaust height) and 2.0 m (approximate inhalation height of adults) above the ground at a number of locations and over several weeks in the city of Edinburgh, UK. Evidence for significant differences in NO2 between heights was observed up to at least 1.2 m from kerbside of busy roads, with tubes at 0.8 m measuring concentrations 5-15 % (a few μg m-3) greater than at 2.0 m. The vertical NO2 concentration difference was not observable at distances 2.5 m or greater from the kerbside. Fitting of horizontal transects of NO2 concentrations away from main roads demonstrated the strong influence of wind speed in yielding faster fall-off in NO2 concentration from the roadside, and in near-ground vertical gradient in NO2, and lower background NO2 concentrations. These observations have potential public health implications for differential NO2 exposures between children walking, or in buggies, close to heavily trafficked urban roads compared with adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S. Kenagy
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ UK
| | - Chun Lin
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ UK
| | - Hao Wu
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ UK
| | - Mathew R. Heal
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ UK
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Škarková P, Kadlubiec R, Fischer M, Kratěnová J, Zapletal M, Vrubel J. REFINING OF ASTHMA PREVALENCE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND VISUALIZATION OF OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT FACTORS USING GIS AND ITS APPLICATION FOR IDENTIFICATION OF MUTUAL ASSOCIATIONS. Cent Eur J Public Health 2015; 23:258-66. [PMID: 26615660 DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
AIM This study presents a procedure of complex assessment of the environment impact on asthma prevalence. This approach is also applicable for any other disease which is supposed to be associated with the quality of the outdoor environment. METHODS The input data included asthma prevalence values from the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) cross-section questionnaire survey (13,456 children) and annual reports on activities of all paediatricians in the Czech Republic (2,072 surgeries); concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, O3, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, As, Cd, Pb and Ni; emissions of total suspended particles, SO2, NOx, CO, VOC, NH3; traffic intensity; land cover (anthropogenic area, urban greenery, arable land, grassland, other agricultural land, forests); proportion of cultivation of individual agricultural crops (17 categories); and proportion of individual woods (15 categories). Using the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) analysis the integration of all source data through one spatial unit was achieved and complete data sets were compiled to be subjected to statistical analysis (combination of factor analysis with logistic/linear regression). RESULTS In this study, the approach of combined use of GIS analyses and statistical evaluation of large input data sets was tested. The asthma prevalence demonstrated positive associations with the air pollution (PM10, PM2.5, benzene, benzo(a)pyren, SO2, Pb, Cd) and the rate of agricultural use of land (growing oats, rye, arable fodder crops). Conversely, there was a negative association with the occurrence of natural forests (ash, poplar, fir, beech, spruce, pine). No significant associations were observed with the distance from the road, traffic intensity and NO2 concentration. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the outdoor quality may be one of the crucial factors for asthma prevalence.
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Long-Term Exposure to Primary Traffic Pollutants and Lung Function in Children: Cross-Sectional Study and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142565. [PMID: 26619227 PMCID: PMC4664276 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is widespread concern about the possible health effects of traffic-related air pollution. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a convenient marker of primary pollution. We investigated the associations between lung function and current residential exposure to a range of air pollutants (particularly NO2, NO, NOx and particulate matter) in London children. Moreover, we placed the results for NO2 in context with a meta-analysis of published estimates of the association. Methods and Findings Associations between primary traffic pollutants and lung function were investigated in 4884 children aged 9–10 years who participated in the Child Heart and Health Study in England (CHASE). A systematic literature search identified 13 studies eligible for inclusion in a meta-analysis. We combined results from the meta-analysis with the distribution of the values of FEV1 in CHASE to estimate the prevalence of children with abnormal lung function (FEV1<80% of predicted value) expected under different scenarios of NO2 exposure. In CHASE, there were non-significant inverse associations between all pollutants except ozone and both FEV1 and FVC. In the meta-analysis, a 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 was associated with an 8 ml lower FEV1 (95% CI: -14 to -1 ml; p: 0.016). The observed effect was not modified by a reported asthma diagnosis. On the basis of these results, a 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 level would translate into a 7% (95% CI: 4% to 12%) increase of the prevalence of children with abnormal lung function. Conclusions Exposure to traffic pollution may cause a small overall reduction in lung function and increase the prevalence of children with clinically relevant declines in lung function.
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