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Garshick E, Redlich CA, Korpak A, Timmons AK, Smith NL, Nakayama K, Baird CP, Ciminera P, Kheradmand F, Fan VS, Hart JE, Koutrakis P, Kuschner W, Ioachimescu O, Jerrett M, Montgrain PR, Proctor SP, Wan ES, Wendt CH, Wongtrakool C, Blanc PD. Chronic respiratory symptoms following deployment-related occupational and environmental exposures among US veterans. Occup Environ Med 2024; 81:59-65. [PMID: 37968126 PMCID: PMC10872566 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2023-109146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Characterise inhalational exposures during deployment to Afghanistan and Southwest Asia and associations with postdeployment respiratory symptoms. METHODS Participants (n=1960) in this cross-sectional study of US Veterans (Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study 'Service and Health Among Deployed Veterans') completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire regarding 32 deployment exposures, grouped a priori into six categories: burn pit smoke; other combustion sources; engine exhaust; mechanical and desert dusts; toxicants; and military job-related vapours gas, dusts or fumes (VGDF). Responses were scored ordinally (0, 1, 2) according to exposure frequency. Factor analysis supported item reduction and category consolidation yielding 28 exposure items in 5 categories. Generalised linear models with a logit link tested associations with symptoms (by respiratory health questionnaire) adjusting for other covariates. OR were scaled per 20-point score increment (normalised maximum=100). RESULTS The cohort mean age was 40.7 years with a median deployment duration of 11.7 months. Heavy exposures to multiple inhalational exposures were commonly reported, including burn pit smoke (72.7%) and VGDF (72.0%). The prevalence of dyspnoea, chronic bronchitis and wheeze in the past 12 months was 7.3%, 8.2% and 15.6%, respectively. Burn pit smoke exposure was associated with dyspnoea (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.47) and chronic bronchitis (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.44). Exposure to VGDF was associated with dyspnoea (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.58) and wheeze (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.35). CONCLUSION Exposures to burn pit smoke and military occupational VGDF during deployment were associated with an increased odds of chronic respiratory symptoms among US Veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Garshick
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine Section, Medical Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital Channing Division of Network Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carrie A Redlich
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Anna Korpak
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Andrew K Timmons
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nicholas L Smith
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Karen Nakayama
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Paul Ciminera
- Health Services Policy and Oversight, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Farrah Kheradmand
- Department of Medicine, Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Vincent S Fan
- VA Puget Sound HCS Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jaime E Hart
- Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital Channing Division of Network Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ware Kuschner
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Octavian Ioachimescu
- Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Michael Jerrett
- University of California Los Angeles Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Phillipe R Montgrain
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Susan P Proctor
- US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, Massachusetts, USA
- Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emily S Wan
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine Section, Medical Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital Channing Division of Network Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christine H Wendt
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Cherry Wongtrakool
- Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia, USA
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Paul D Blanc
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, California, USA
- Division of Occupational, Environmental, and Climate Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Military personnel deployed to Southwest Asia and Afghanistan were potentially exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter and other pollutants from multiple sources, including dust storms, burn pit emissions from open-air waste burning, local ambient air pollution, and a range of military service-related activities that can generate airborne exposures. These exposures, individually or in combination, can have adverse respiratory health effects. We review exposures and potential health impacts, providing a framework for evaluation. RECENT FINDINGS Particulate matter exposures during deployment exceeded U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Epidemiologic studies and case series suggest that in postdeployment Veterans with respiratory symptoms, asthma is the most commonly diagnosed illness. Small airway abnormalities, most notably particularly constrictive bronchiolitis, have been reported in a small number of deployers, but many are left without an established diagnosis for their respiratory symptoms. The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act was enacted to provide care for conditions presumed to be related to deployment exposures. Rigorous study of long-term postdeployment health has been limited. SUMMARY Veterans postdeployment to Southwest Asia and Afghanistan with respiratory symptoms should undergo an exposure assessment and comprehensive medical evaluation. If required, more advanced diagnostic considerations should be utilized in a setting that can provide multidisciplinary expertise and long-term follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Garshick
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine Section, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System; Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Paul D. Blanc
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, UC San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco; Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, California, USA
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Aghababaeian H, Ostadtaghizadeh A, Ardalan A, Asgary A, Akbary M, Yekaninejad MS, Stephens C. Global Health Impacts of Dust Storms: A Systematic Review. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2021; 15:11786302211018390. [PMID: 34103932 PMCID: PMC8150667 DOI: 10.1177/11786302211018390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dust storms and their impacts on health are becoming a major public health issue. The current study examines the health impacts of dust storms around the world to provide an overview of this issue. METHOD In this systematic review, 140 relevant and authoritative English articles on the impacts of dust storms on health (up to September 2019) were identified and extracted from 28 968 articles using valid keywords from various databases (PubMed, WOS, EMBASE, and Scopus) and multiple screening steps. Selected papers were then qualitatively examined and evaluated. Evaluation results were summarized using an Extraction Table. RESULTS The results of the study are divided into two parts: short and long-term impacts of dust storms. Short-term impacts include mortality, visitation, emergency medical dispatch, hospitalization, increased symptoms, and decreased pulmonary function. Long-term impacts include pregnancy, cognitive difficulties, and birth problems. Additionally, this study shows that dust storms have devastating impacts on health, affecting cardiovascular and respiratory health in particular. CONCLUSION The findings of this study show that dust storms have significant public health impacts. More attention should be paid to these natural hazards to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate these hazardous events to reduce their negative health impacts.Registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42018093325.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Aghababaeian
- Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Nursing and Emergency, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
| | - Abbas Ostadtaghizadeh
- Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Ardalan
- Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Asgary
- Disaster and Emergency Management, School of Administrative Studies, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mehry Akbary
- Department of Climatology, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mir Saeed Yekaninejad
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Carolyn Stephens
- UCL Bartlett Development Planning Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Gentile DA, Morphew T, Elliott J, Presto AA, Skoner DP. Asthma prevalence and control among schoolchildren residing near outdoor air pollution sites. J Asthma 2020; 59:12-22. [PMID: 33104451 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2020.1840584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Outdoor air pollution (OAP) contributes to poor asthma outcomes and remains a public health concern in Pittsburgh. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of childhood asthma and its rate of control among Pittsburgh schoolchildren residing near OAP sites. METHODS Participants were recruited from schools near OAP sites. Asthma prevalence and control were assessed using a validated survey. Demographics and socioeconomic status were collected by survey, BMI was calculated, secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure was assessed by salivary cotinine levels, and OAP was assessed by mobile platform monitoring. Multivariate analysis adjusted for confounders. RESULTS In 1202 Pittsburgh elementary school students surveyed, 50.9% were female, average age was 8.5 years (SD = 1.9), 52.2% were African American and 60.6% had public health insurance. SHS exposure was relatively high at 33.9%, 17.1% of students were obese, and 70% had exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) greater than the World Health Organization standard of 10 μg/m3. Overall prevalence of asthma was 22.5% with PM2.5, nitric oxide (NOx), sulfur (S), and zinc (Zn) significantly related to odds of asthma. Among the 270 children previously diagnosed with asthma, 59.3% were not well controlled with PM2.5, black carbon, and silicon (Si) significantly related to odds of uncontrolled asthma. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that asthma prevalence and poor disease control are significantly elevated in Pittsburgh schoolchildren exposed to high levels of OAP. Future efforts need to focus on primary prevention of asthma by reducing exposure to OAP in at risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah A Gentile
- Division of Clinical Research, Allergy and Asthma Wellness Centers, Butler, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Albert A Presto
- Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David P Skoner
- Division of Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
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Respiratory Health after Military Service in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan. An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2020; 16:e1-e16. [PMID: 31368802 PMCID: PMC6774741 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.201904-344ws] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2001, more than 2.7 million U.S. military personnel have been deployed in support of operations in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan. Land-based personnel experienced elevated exposures to particulate matter and other inhalational exposures from multiple sources, including desert dust, burn pit combustion, and other industrial, mobile, or military sources. A workshop conducted at the 2018 American Thoracic Society International Conference had the goals of: 1) identifying key studies assessing postdeployment respiratory health, 2) describing emerging research, and 3) highlighting knowledge gaps. The workshop reviewed epidemiologic studies that demonstrated more frequent encounters for respiratory symptoms postdeployment compared with nondeployers and for airway disease, predominantly asthma, as well as case series describing postdeployment dyspnea, asthma, and a range of other respiratory tract findings. On the basis of particulate matter effects in other populations, it also is possible that deployers experienced reductions in pulmonary function as a result of such exposure. The workshop also gave particular attention to constrictive bronchiolitis, which has been reported in lung biopsies of selected deployers. Workshop participants had heterogeneous views regarding the definition and frequency of constrictive bronchiolitis and other small airway pathologic findings in deployed populations. The workshop concluded that the relationship of airway disease, including constrictive bronchiolitis, to exposures experienced during deployment remains to be better defined. Future clinical and epidemiologic research efforts should address better characterization of deployment exposures; carry out longitudinal assessment of potentially related adverse health conditions, including lung function and other physiologic changes; and use rigorous histologic, exposure, and clinical characterization of patients with respiratory tract abnormalities.
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Rublee CS, Sorensen CJ, Lemery J, Wade TJ, Sams EA, Hilborn ED, Crooks JL. Associations Between Dust Storms and Intensive Care Unit Admissions in the United States, 2000-2015. GEOHEALTH 2020; 4:e2020GH000260. [PMID: 32783014 PMCID: PMC7411550 DOI: 10.1029/2020gh000260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change is influencing the incidence of dust storms and associated human exposure to coarse particulate matter (PM2.5-10) in the United States. Studies have found adverse health consequences related to dust exposure. These consequences include respiratory disease exacerbations and premature mortality, resulting in increased health care utilization. However, the impact of dust storms on critical care demand has not been studied in the United States. We seek to quantify the relationship between dust storms and surges in critical care demand by investigating the association between dust storms and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions at nearby hospitals from 2000 to 2015. ICU data were acquired from Premier, Inc. and encompass 15-20% of all ICU admissions in the United States. Dust storm, meteorology, and air pollutant data were downloaded from the U.S. National Weather Service, the U.S. National Climatic Data Center, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency websites, respectively. Associations between ICU admission and dust storms, controlling for temperature, dew point temperature, ambient PM2.5 and ozone, as well as seasonally varying confounders, were estimated using a distributed lag conditional Poisson model with overdispersion. We found a 4.8% (95% CI: 0.4, 9.4; p = 0.033) increase in total ICU admissions on the day of the dust storm (Lag 0) and a 9.2% (95% CI: 1.8, 17.0; p = 0.013) and 7.5% (95% CI: 0.3, 15.2; p = 0.040) increase in respiratory admissions at Lags 0 and 5. North American dust storms are associated with increases in same day and lagged demand for critical care services at nearby hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. S. Rublee
- Department of Emergency MedicineUniversity of Colorado School of MedicineAuroraCOUSA
| | - C. J. Sorensen
- Department of Emergency MedicineUniversity of Colorado School of MedicineAuroraCOUSA
| | - J. Lemery
- Department of Emergency MedicineUniversity of Colorado School of MedicineAuroraCOUSA
| | - T. J. Wade
- United States Environmental Protection AgencyChapel HillNCUSA
| | - E. A. Sams
- United States Environmental Protection AgencyChapel HillNCUSA
| | - E. D. Hilborn
- United States Environmental Protection AgencyChapel HillNCUSA
| | - J. L. Crooks
- Division of Biostatistics and BioinformaticsNational Jewish HealthDenverCOUSA
- Department of EpidemiologyColorado School of Public HealthAuroraCOUSA
- Now at National Jewish Health Main CampusDenverCOUSA
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7
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Hashizume M, Kim Y, Ng CFS, Chung Y, Madaniyazi L, Bell ML, Guo YL, Kan H, Honda Y, Yi SM, Kim H, Nishiwaki Y. Health Effects of Asian Dust: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:66001. [PMID: 32589456 PMCID: PMC7319773 DOI: 10.1289/ehp5312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Potential adverse health effects of Asian dust exposure have been reported, but systematic reviews and quantitative syntheses are lacking. OBJECTIVE We reviewed epidemiologic studies that assessed the risk of mortality, hospital admissions, and symptoms/dysfunction associated with exposure to Asian dust. METHODS We performed a systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science to identify studies that reported the association between Asian dust exposure and human health outcomes. We conducted separate meta-analyses using a random-effects model for mortality and hospital admissions for a specific health outcome and assessed pooled estimates for each lag when at least three studies were available for a specific lag. RESULTS We identified 89 studies that met our inclusion criteria for the systematic review, and 21 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled estimates (percentage changes) of mortality from circulatory and respiratory causes for Asian dust days vs. non-Asian dust days were 2.33% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.76, 3.93] increase at lag 0 and 3.99% (95% CI: 0.08, 8.06) increase at lag 3, respectively. The increased risk for hospital admissions for respiratory disease, asthma, and pneumonia peaked at lag 3 by 8.85% (95% CI: 0.80, 17.55), 14.55% (95% CI: 6.74, 22.94), and 8.51% (95% CI: 2.89, 14.44), respectively. Seven of 12 studies reported reduced peak expiratory flow, and 16 of 21 studies reported increased respiratory symptoms associated with Asian dust exposure. There were substantial variations between the studies in definitions of Asian dust, study designs, model specifications, and confounder controls. DISCUSSION We found evidence of increased mortality and hospital admissions for circulatory and respiratory events. However, the number of studies included in the meta-analysis was not large and further evidences are merited to strengthen our conclusions. Standardized protocols for epidemiological studies would facilitate interstudy comparisons. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5312.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Hashizume
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yoonhee Kim
- Department of Global Environmental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chris Fook Sheng Ng
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yeonseung Chung
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Lina Madaniyazi
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Michelle L Bell
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Yue Leon Guo
- Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Haidong Kan
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yasushi Honda
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Seung-Muk Yi
- Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Kim
- Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuji Nishiwaki
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
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Morikawa E, Sasaki M, Yoshida K, Adachi Y, Odajima H, Akasawa A. Nationwide survey of the prevalence of wheeze, rhino-conjunctivitis, and eczema among Japanese children in 2015. Allergol Int 2020; 69:98-103. [PMID: 31548125 DOI: 10.1016/j.alit.2019.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Global surveys and cohort studies have been conducted to evaluate the prevalence of allergic disease in childhood, but only a few nationwide surveys have been conducted in Japan. We aimed to report the prevalence of childhood allergic disease in Japan and determine the prevalence distribution by sex and prefecture. METHODS In 2015, we conducted a school-based questionnaire survey using the Japanese version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire among two age groups: primary school students (PS, 6-8 years old) and middle school students (MS, 13-15 years old). The schools were randomly selected from each prefecture. RESULTS Valid responses were obtained from 42,582 PS and 36,638 MS. Among PS and MS, the prevalence of wheeze was 10.2% and 8.2%, that of allergic rhino-conjunctivitis was 18.7% and 26.7%, and that of eczema was 14.6% and 9.7%, respectively. In terms of sex, the prevalence of wheeze and rhino-conjunctivitis was higher in male PS while that of rhino-conjunctivitis and eczema was higher in female MS. In terms of prefecture, there was a two-fold difference in the prevalence of wheeze and eczema and a four-fold difference in the prevalence of rhino-conjunctivitis, with each disease showing different distribution patterns. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated the prevalence of allergic disease among PS and MS in 2015. The prevalence tended to be higher in male PS and female MS. Each disease exhibited different prevalence ranges and distributions. Identifying the factors behind these differences is a topic for future research.
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Relationships between perceived health status and ambient air quality parameters in healthy Japanese: a panel study. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:620. [PMID: 31117980 PMCID: PMC6530092 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6934-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There has been growing global concern about air pollution due to its great risk to public health. In Japan, although industrial- and traffic-related air pollution has been decreasing, concerns about particulate matter air pollution has been growing in recent years. In this study, we examined the effects of air pollution on symptoms and the health status of healthy subjects in Japan. Methods Participants (n = 2887) who visited healthcare centers in Kumamoto or Niigata prefectures in February from 2010 to 2015 were asked to fill out a questionnaire, which was a self-completed booklet containing questions on the characteristics of participants, their respiratory symptoms, and questionnaires on their health status in February, May, and July. Generalized estimating equation analyses were performed to predict the factors associated with the symptoms and health status using two-week averages of air quality parameters obtained from 49 monitoring stations as independent variables. Results Only allergy was associated with air quality in both areas. Prevalence of the other respiratory symptoms were correlated with air quality only in Kumamoto. The health statuses including the ‘physical fitness’, ‘daily activities’, and ‘social activities’ domains were related only to time spent outdoors. The ‘overall health’ was associated with time spent outdoors and concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and suspended particulate matters (SPM) in Kumamoto, and with temperatures and SPM in Niigata. The ‘pain’ score was correlated with temperature and carbon monoxide concentration only in Kumamoto. In Kumamoto, the ‘quality of life (QoL)’ was worse in those who spent shorter hours outdoors, were exposed to lower humidity, higher concentrations of oxidants, SPM, and PM2.5, and who experienced more Asian sand dust (ASD) events. In Niigata, a worsened ‘QoL’ was associated with time spent outdoors, temperature, and SPM. Conclusions The associations between air quality and the health status was found mainly in the comprehensive domain of the health status such as ‘overall health’ and ‘QoL’. The effect of short-term exposure to larger particles, such as SPM, on health status was observed when compared to smaller particles such as PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants.
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Sugimoto N, Shimizu A, Nishizawa T, Jin Y. Recent developments with the asian dust and aerosol lidar observation network (AD-NET). EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/201817609001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent developments of lidars and data analysis methods for AD-Net, and the studies using ADNet are presented. Continuous observation was started in 2001 at three stations using polarizationsensitive Mie-scattering lidars. Currently, lidars, including three multi-wavelength Raman lidars and one high-spectral-resolution lidar, are operated at 20 stations. Recent studies on validation/assimilation of chemical transport models, climatology, and epidemiology of Asian dust are also described.
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Kurai J, Watanabe M, Noma H, Iwata K, Taniguchi J, Sano H, Tohda Y, Shimizu E. Estimation of the effects of heavy Asian dust on respiratory function by definition type. Genes Environ 2017; 39:25. [PMID: 29118866 PMCID: PMC5664575 DOI: 10.1186/s41021-017-0085-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The adverse effects of Asian dust (AD) on health have been demonstrated in earlier studies, but there is no standardized definition for heavy–AD. This study aimed to examine which definition of heavy–AD has the most adverse effect on respiratory function. Methods One–hundred–and–thirty–seven adults with asthma, and 384 school children self-measured their morning peak expiratory flow (PEF). The four definitions of heavy–AD are: (1) the definition provided by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), (2) daily median AD particle level ≥ 0.07 km−1, obtained through light detection and ranging (LIDAR) (3) hourly AD particle level ≥ 0.1 km−1, and (4) hourly level ≥ 0.07 km−1. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the effects of heavy–AD, by definition type, on daily PEF values. Results In adults with asthma, as per the JMA’s definition, significantly reduced PEF were observed on heavy–AD days (lag 0), lag 0–1, and lag 0–3. In school children, after a heavy–AD event, as defined by the JMA, PEF significantly decreased on lag 0–1, lag 0–2, and lag 0–3. However, as per the other definitions, there was no significant decrease in the PEF in the adults and children. Conclusion The associations between heavy–AD and respiratory function differed between these definitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Kurai
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori 683-8504 Japan
| | - Masanari Watanabe
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori 683-8504 Japan
| | - Hisashi Noma
- Department of Data Science, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 10-3 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo, 190-8562 Japan
| | - Kyoko Iwata
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori 683-8504 Japan.,Mio Fertility Clinic, Reproductive Centre, Tottori, Japan
| | - Jumpei Taniguchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori 683-8504 Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sano
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohnohigashi, Osakasayama, 589-0014 Japan
| | - Yuji Tohda
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohnohigashi, Osakasayama, 589-0014 Japan
| | - Eiji Shimizu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori 683-8504 Japan
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Hallit S, Assi TB, Hallit R, Salameh P. Allergic diseases, smoking, and environmental exposure among university students in Lebanon. J Asthma 2017; 55:35-42. [PMID: 28296532 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2017.1306075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Smoking habits among university students in Lebanon are not clearly identified, and studies correlating these habits to asthma and allergic diseases are lacking. The primary objective of this study is to assess asthma and allergic diseases' predictors, particularly cigarette and/or waterpipe smoking and other environmental exposures, among university students. A second objective is to evaluate the potential role of these predictors as correlates of health-related self-assessment. METHODS A cross-sectional study, using a proportionate cluster sample of 3000 Lebanese students in both public and private universities, was conducted between January 2015 and December 2015. RESULTS The number of smokers at home, living close to an electricity generator and exposure to sand and dust significantly increased the odds of having asthma or allergic diseases (p = 0.015; OR = 1.183; p = 0.01; OR = 2.062; p = 0.001; OR = 3.558 respectively). Having tried cigarette smoking and having an air conditioner inside the means of transportation would decrease the odds of having asthma or allergic diseases by around 68% and 56.1% respectively (p = 0.009; ORa = 0.320; p = 0.01; ORa = 0.439 respectively). CONCLUSION Although students with asthma or allergic diseases tended to avoid all identifiable atopic risk factors, lesser known environmental factors such as living close to an electricity generator, exposure to sand and dust, and exposure to car exhaust fumes were associated with a higher risk of asthma and a decrease in health related self-assessment. Students with asthma and allergic diseases smoked cigarettes and waterpipe at similar percentages, but cigarette smokers had a lower health related self-assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souheil Hallit
- a Faculty of Pharmacy , Lebanese University , Hadath , Lebanon.,b School of Pharmacy , Saint Joseph University , Beirut , Lebanon.,c Faculty of Medicine , Universite Saint Esprit Kaslik , Kaslik , Lebanon.,d Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross , Jal Eddib , Lebanon.,e Occupational Health Environment Research Team , U1219 BPH Bordeaux Population Health Research Center Inserm-Université de Bordeaux
| | - Tarek Bou Assi
- d Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross , Jal Eddib , Lebanon
| | - Rabih Hallit
- c Faculty of Medicine , Universite Saint Esprit Kaslik , Kaslik , Lebanon
| | - Pascale Salameh
- a Faculty of Pharmacy , Lebanese University , Hadath , Lebanon.,f Faculty of Medicine , Lebanese University , Beirut , Lebanon
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Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Particulate Air Pollutants on the Inflammatory Response and Respiratory Symptoms: A Panel Study in Schoolchildren from Rural Areas of Japan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13100983. [PMID: 27706066 PMCID: PMC5086722 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13100983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between particulate air pollutants and respiratory symptoms in children has not been consistent among studies, potentially owing to differences in the inflammatory response to different particulate air pollutants. This study aimed to investigate the effect of particulate air pollutants on respiratory symptoms and the inflammatory response in schoolchildren. Three hundred-and-sixty children were included in the study. The children recorded daily respiratory symptom scores for October 2015. In addition, the daily amount of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production was assessed in THP1 cells stimulated with suspended particulate matter (SPM), which was collected every day during the study period. Generalized estimating equation logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the associations among respiratory symptoms and the daily levels of SPM, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. Daily SPM levels were not associated with respiratory symptoms or the daily IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels. Conversely, there was a significant association between respiratory symptoms and the daily IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels. These results suggested that the effects of particulate air pollutants on respiratory symptoms in schoolchildren might depend more on the pro-inflammatory response to them than on their mass concentration.
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Sprigg WA. Dust Storms, Human Health and a Global Early Warning System. EXTREME WEATHER, HEALTH, AND COMMUNITIES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-30626-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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