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Liu Y, Geng X, Smargiassi A, Fournier M, Gamage SM, Zalzal J, Yamanouchi S, Torbatian S, Minet L, Hatzopoulou M, Buteau S, Laouan-Sidi EA, Liu L. Changes in industrial air pollution and the onset of childhood asthma in Quebec, Canada. Environ Res 2024; 243:117831. [PMID: 38052354 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Ambient air pollution has been associated with asthma onset and exacerbation in children. Whether improvement in air quality due to reduced industrial emissions has resulted in improved health outcomes such as asthma in some localities has usually been assessed indirectly with studies on between-subject comparisons of air pollution from all sources and health outcomes. In this study we directly assessed, within small areas in the province of Quebec (Canada), the influence of changes in local industrial fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations, on changes in annual asthma onset rates in children (≤12 years old) with a longitudinal ecological design. We identified the yearly number of new cases of childhood asthma in 1282 small areas (census tracts or local community service centers) for the years 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2015. Annual average concentrations of industrial air pollutants for each of the geographic areas, and three sectors (i.e., pulp and paper mills, petroleum refineries, and metal smelters) were estimated by the Polair3D chemical transport model. Fixed-effects negative binomial models adjusted for household income were used to assess associations; additional adjustments for environmental tobacco smoke, background pollutant concentrations, vegetation coverage, and sociodemographic characteristics were conducted in sensitivity analyses. The incidence rate ratios (IRR) for childhood asthma onset for the interquartile increase in total industrial PM2.5, NO2, and SO2 were 1.016 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.006-1.026), 1.063 (1.045-1.090), and 1.048 (1.031-1.080), respectively. Positive associations were also found with pollutant concentrations from most individual sectors. Results suggest that changes in industrial pollutant concentrations influence childhood asthma onset rates in small localities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Xiaohui Geng
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Audrey Smargiassi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | | | | | - Jad Zalzal
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shoma Yamanouchi
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sara Torbatian
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Laura Minet
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | | | - Stephane Buteau
- Institut National de Sante Publique Du Quebec, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Ling Liu
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Zhao N, Smargiassi A, Jean S, Gamache P, Laouan-Sidi EA, Chen H, Goldberg MS, Bernatsky S. Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter and ozone and the onset of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases: an open cohort study in Quebec, Canada. Arthritis Res Ther 2022; 24:151. [PMID: 35739578 PMCID: PMC9219240 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-022-02843-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To estimate associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone and the onset of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). METHODS An open cohort of over 6 million adults was constructed from provincial physician billing and hospitalization records between 2000 and 2013. We defined incident SARD cases (SLE, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, polyarteritis nodosa and related conditions, polymyalgia rheumatic, other necrotizing vasculopathies, and undifferentiated connective tissue disease) based on at least two relevant billing diagnostic codes (within 2 years, with at least 1 billing from a rheumatologist), or at least one relevant hospitalization diagnostic code. Estimated PM2.5 and ozone concentrations (derived from remote sensing and/or chemical transport models) were assigned to subjects based on residential postal codes, updated throughout follow-up. Cox proportional hazards models with annual exposure levels were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for SARDs incidence, adjusting for sex, age, urban-versus-rural residence, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS The adjusted HR for SARDS related to one interquartile range increase in PM2.5 (3.97 µg/m3) was 1.12 (95% confidence interval 1.08-1.15), but there was no clear association with ozone. Indirectly controlling for smoking did not alter the findings. CONCLUSIONS We found associations between SARDs incidence and PM2.5, but no relationships with ozone. Additional studies are needed to better understand interplays between the many constituents of air pollution and rheumatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naizhuo Zhao
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Audrey Smargiassi
- Département de Santé Environnementale Et de Santé Au Travail, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Centre of Public Health Research, University of Montreal and CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-L'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sonia Jean
- Centre of Public Health Research, University of Montreal and CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-L'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada.,Université Laval and Bureau d'information Et d'études en Santé Des Populations, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), 945, avenue Wolfe, Québec, QC, G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Philippe Gamache
- Centre of Public Health Research, University of Montreal and CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-L'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Elhadji-Anassour Laouan-Sidi
- Centre of Public Health Research, University of Montreal and CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-L'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Hong Chen
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark S Goldberg
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Québec, Canada
| | - Sasha Bernatsky
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada. .,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Québec, Canada. .,Divisions of Rheumatology and Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada. .,Centre for Outcomes Research & Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 5252 Boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, (3F.51), Montreal, QC, H4A 3S5, Canada.
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