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. 2015 Aug 28;12(9):10635-47.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph120910635.

Effect of Personal Exposure to PM2.5 on Respiratory Health in a Mexican Panel of Patients with COPD

Marlene Cortez-Lugo  1 , Matiana Ramírez-Aguilar  2 , Rogelio Pérez-Padilla  3 , Raúl Sansores-Martínez  4 , Alejandra Ramírez-Venegas  5 , Albino Barraza-Villarreal  6
Affiliations

Effect of Personal Exposure to PM2.5 on Respiratory Health in a Mexican Panel of Patients with COPD

Marlene Cortez-Lugo et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Air pollution is a problem, especially in developing countries. We examined the association between personal exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) on respiratory health in a group of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: All participants resided in Mexico City and during follow-up, personal exposure to PM2.5, respiratory symptoms, medications, and daily activity were registered daily. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured twice daily, from February through December, 2000, in 29 adults with moderate, severe, and very severe COPD. PEF changes were estimated for each 10 µg/m³ increment of PM2.5, adjustment for severity of COPD, minimum temperature, and day of the sampling.

Results: For a 10-µg/m³ increase in the daily average of a two-day personal exposure to PM2.5, there was a significant 33% increase in cough (95% CI, range, 5-69%), and 23% in phlegm (95% CI, range, 2-54%), a reduction of the PEF average in the morning of -1.4 L/min. (95% CI , range, -2.8 to -0.04), and at night of -3.0 L/min (95% CI, range, -5.7 to -0.3), respectively.

Conclusions: Exposure to PM2.5 was associated with reductions in PEF and increased respiratory symptoms in adults with COPD. The PEF reduction was observed both at morning and at night.

Keywords: COPD; PEF; PM2.5 personal exposure.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Personal exposure follow-up.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) personal exposure according to individuals participating in the study, Mexico City.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of personal of exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) on respiratory symptoms, Mexico City.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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