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. 2014 Jun;69(6):540-7.
doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-203159. Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Associations of children's lung function with ambient air pollution: joint effects of regional and near-roadway pollutants

Robert Urman  1 , Rob McConnell  1 , Talat Islam  1 , Edward L Avol  1 , Frederick W Lurmann  2 , Hita Vora  1 , William S Linn  1 , Edward B Rappaport  1 , Frank D Gilliland  1 , W James Gauderman  1
Affiliations

Associations of children's lung function with ambient air pollution: joint effects of regional and near-roadway pollutants

Robert Urman et al. Thorax. 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have reported adverse effects of either regional or near-roadway air pollution (NRAP) on lung function. However, there has been little study of the joint effects of these exposures.

Objectives: To assess the joint effects of NRAP and regional pollutants on childhood lung function in the Children's Health Study.

Methods: Lung function was measured on 1811 children from eight Southern Californian communities. NRAP exposure was assessed based on (1) residential distance to the nearest freeway or major road and (2) estimated near-roadway contributions to residential nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitric oxide (NO) and total nitrogen oxides (NOx). Exposure to regional ozone (O3), NO2, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 µm (PM10) and 2.5 µm (PM2.5) was measured continuously at community monitors.

Results: An increase in near-roadway NOx of 17.9 ppb (2 SD) was associated with deficits of 1.6% in forced vital capacity (FVC) (p=0.005) and 1.1% in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (p=0.048). Effects were observed in all communities and were similar for NO2 and NO. Residential proximity to a freeway was associated with a reduction in FVC. Lung function deficits of 2-3% were associated with regional PM10 and PM2.5 (FVC and FEV1) and with O3 (FEV1), but not NO2 across the range of exposure between communities. Associations with regional pollution and NRAP were independent in models adjusted for each. The effects of NRAP were not modified by regional pollutant concentrations.

Conclusions: The results indicate that NRAP and regional air pollution have independent adverse effects on childhood lung function.

Keywords: Respiratory Measurement.

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Conflict of interest statement

COMPETING INTERESTS

Frederick Lurmann is employed by Sonoma Technology, Inc (Petaluma, CA). Rob McConnell has received research support from an air quality violations settlement agreement between the South Coast Air Quality Management District, a California state regulatory agency, and BP. The other authors declare they have no actual or potential competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of predicted local (A) NO, (B) NO2, and (C) NOx within each of the eight study communities based on a spatial land-use regression model.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Associations of local NOx with (A) FEV1 and (B) FVC within each study community.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Adjusted average FEV1 versus 2002–2007 community-average pollutant levels. Average FEV1 values are referenced to a white, non-hispanic female of average height and BMI and without a respiratory infection on the day pulmonary function was examined.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Adjusted average FVC versus 2002–2007 community-average pollutant levels. Average FVC values are referenced to a white, non-hispanic female of average height and BMI and without a respiratory infection on the day pulmonary function was examined.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Joint effect of regional PM2.5 and NRAP on FEV1. Percentages in different exposure environments are relative to a low regional PM2.5 and low NRAP environment as described in the Statistical Methods section.
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