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- Title
Acute Effects of Air Pollution on Pulmonary Function, Airway Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Asthmatic Children.
- Authors
Liu, Ling; Poon, Raymond; Chen, Li; Frescura, Anna-Maria; Montuschi, Paolo; Ciabattoni, Giovanni; Wheeler, Amanda; Dales, Robert
- Abstract
BACKGROUND: Air pollution is associated with respiratory symptoms, lung function decrements, and hospitalizations. However, there is little information about the influence of air pollution on lung injury. OBJECTIVE: In this study we investigated acute effects of air pollution on pulmonary function and airway oxidative stress and inflammation in asthmatic children. METHODS: We studied 182 children with asthma, 9--14 years of age, for 4 weeks. Daily ambient concentrations of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) were monitored from two stations. Once a week we measured spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and determined thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and 8-isoprostane--two oxidative stress markers--and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in breath condensate. We tested associations using mixed-effects regression models, adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS: Interquartile-range increases in 3-day average SO2 (5.4 ppb), NO2 (6.8 ppb), and PM2.5 (5.4 µg/m3) were associated with decreases in forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity, with changes being --3.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), --5.8 to --0.3], --2.8% (95% CI, --4.8 to --0.8), and --3.0% (95% CI, --4.7 to --1.2), respectively. SO2, NO2, and PM2.5 were associated with increases in TBARS, with changes being 36.2% (95% CI, 15.7 to 57.2), 21.8% (95% CI, 8.2 to 36.0), and 24.8% (95% CI, 10.8 to 39.4), respectively. Risk estimates appear to be larger in children not taking corticosteroids than in children taking corticosteroids. O3 (5.3 ppb) was not associated with health end points. FeNO, 8-isoprostane, and IL-6 were not associated with air pollutants. CONCLUSION: Air pollution may increase airway oxidative stress and decrease small airway function of asthmatic children. Inhaled corticosteroids may reduce oxidative stress and improve airway function.
- Publication
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2009, Vol 117, Issue 4, p668
- ISSN
0091-6765
- Publication type
Academic Journal
- DOI
10.1289/ehp.11813