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Adult lung function and long-term air pollution exposure. ESCAPE: a multicentre cohort study and meta-analysis
Martin Adam1, Tamara Schikowski2, Anne Elie Carsin3
1Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel University of Basel, Basel These authors contributed equally.
The European Respiratory Journal
|September 7, 2014
Summary
Long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM10) air pollution is linked to reduced lung function (FEV₁ and FVC) in adults, especially those who are obese. This study highlights adverse effects even at low pollution levels in Europe.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pulmonology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The chronic effects of air pollution on adult lung function remain incompletely understood.
- Ambient air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), are widespread in urban environments.
- Previous studies suggest potential links between air pollution exposure and respiratory health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and lung function in adults.
- To analyze data from five European cohorts within the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) project.
- To assess the impact of specific pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and various particulate matter (PM) metrics on spirometric parameters.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 7613 adult participants across five European cohorts.
- Modeled residential exposure to nitrogen oxides (NO₂ and NOx) and particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10, coarse PM, PM absorbance).
- Assessed traffic indicators and combined cohort-specific results using meta-analysis for spirometric outcomes (FEV₁ and FVC).
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between air pollution and longitudinal changes in lung function.
- A 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in NO₂ exposure was associated with lower FEV₁ (-14.0 mL) and FVC (-14.9 mL).
- A 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in PM10 exposure was associated with significantly lower FEV₁ (-44.6 mL) and FVC (-59.0 mL), with stronger effects observed in obese individuals.
Conclusions:
- Long-term exposure to ambient NO₂ and PM10 is associated with reduced lung function (FEV₁ and FVC) in European adults.
- These adverse effects on lung function were observed even at relatively low pollution levels.
- Obesity may exacerbate the negative impact of air pollution on lung function.
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