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Associations between personal exposure to air pollutants and lung function tests and cardiovascular indices among children with asthma living near an industrial complex and petroleum refineries
Citation
Smargiassi, A and Goldberg, MS and Wheeler, AJ and Plante, C and Valois, MF and Mallach, G and Kauri, LM and Shutt, R and Bartlett, S and Raphoz, M and Liu, L, Associations between personal exposure to air pollutants and lung function tests and cardiovascular indices among children with asthma living near an industrial complex and petroleum refineries, Environmental Research, 132 pp. 38-45. ISSN 0013-9351 (2014) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2014 Elsevier Inc
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.envres.2014.03.030
Abstract
METHODS: Seventy-two children with asthma age 7-12 years in 2009-2010 participated in this panel study for a period of 10 consecutive days. They carried a small backpack for personal monitoring of sulphur dioxide (SO2), benzene, fine particles (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and underwent daily spirometry and cardiovascular testing (blood pressure, pulse rate and oxygen saturation). To estimate these associations, we used mixed regression models, adjusting for within-subject serial correlation, and for the effects of a number of personal and environmental variables (e.g., medication use, ethnicity, temperature).
RESULTS: Children with asthma involved in the study had relatively good pulmonary function test results (mean FEV1 compared to standard values: 89.8%, mean FVC: 97.6%, mean FEF25-75: 76.3%). Median diastolic, systolic blood pressures and oxygen saturation were 60/94 mmHg and 99%, respectively. Median personal concentrations of pollutants were NO2, 5.5 ppb; benzene, 2.1 µg/m(3); PM2.5, 5.7 µg/m(3); and total PAH, 130 µg/m(3). Most personal concentrations of SO2 were below the level of detection. No consistent associations were observed between cardio-pulmonary indices and personal exposure to PM2.5, NO2 and benzene, although there was a suggestion for a small decrease in respiratory function with total concentrations of PAHs (e.g., adjusted association with FVC: -9.9 ml per interquartile range 95%CI: -23.4, 3.7).
CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that at low daily average levels of exposure to industrial emissions, effects on pulmonary and cardiovascular functions in children with asthma may be difficult to detect over 10 consecutive days.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Air pollution, Asthma, Industrial emissions, Pulmonary functions, Refineries |
Research Division: | Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services |
Research Group: | Human resources and industrial relations |
Research Field: | Occupational and workplace health and safety |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
Objective Field: | Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Wheeler, AJ (Dr Amanda Wheeler) |
ID Code: | 101137 |
Year Published: | 2014 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 68 |
Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
Deposited On: | 2015-06-10 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-03 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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