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FE NO concentrations in World Trade Center responders and controls, 6 years post-9/11
Matthew P Mauer1, Rebecca Hoen, David Jourd'heuil
1Center for Environmental Health, New York State Department of Health, Flanigan Square, 547 River Street, Troy, NY 12180, USA. mpm08@health.state.ny.us
Lung
|June 14, 2011
Summary
World Trade Center (WTC) responder exposure was not linked to higher fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) levels 6 years later. However, higher FE(NO) levels correlated with increased air pollution, particularly PM2.5 and ozone.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Respiratory Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- World Trade Center (WTC) responders may have experienced respiratory issues due to exposure.
- Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) is a biomarker for airway inflammation.
- Assessing long-term respiratory health in WTC responders is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if offline FE(NO) testing can identify respiratory disease in WTC responders.
- To compare FE(NO) levels in WTC responders versus unexposed controls 6 years post-9/11.
- To explore associations between FE(NO) levels, WTC exposure, and ambient air pollution.
Main Methods:
- Offline FE(NO) testing using breath samples collected in Mylar bags.
- Comparison of 92 WTC responders with 141 unexposed New York State employees.
- Characterization of ambient air pollution (PM2.5, ozone) near testing sites.
Main Results:
- No significant association found between WTC exposure and elevated FE(NO) concentrations.
- FE(NO) levels were higher on days with elevated PM2.5 (≥ 35 μg/m³) and ozone (≥ 0.08 ppm).
- FE(NO) levels were higher in men and lower in smokers.
Conclusions:
- Offline FE(NO) testing is a viable method for field-based epidemiological studies.
- WTC exposure was not associated with elevated FE(NO) 6 years post-9/11 in this cohort.
- Ambient air pollution, not WTC exposure, correlated with increased FE(NO) levels.
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