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Association between lung function of school age children and short-term exposure to air pollution and pollen: the

Hélène Amazouz1, Nicolas Bougas1, Michel Thibaudon2

  • 1CRESS, Inserm, INRAE, HERA Team, Université de Paris, Paris, France.

Thorax
|February 17, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Daily exposure to air pollution and pollen negatively impacts children's lung function, especially those with asthma. Combined exposure to grass pollen and air pollution showed a joint effect on respiratory health.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Ambient air pollution and pollen are known to affect lung function.
  • Few studies have jointly investigated the short-term effects of air pollution and pollen on respiratory health.
  • Understanding these combined effects is crucial for public health, particularly in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the short-term effects of co-exposure to pollen and air pollution on lung function in school-aged children.
  • To identify distinct exposure patterns using cluster analysis.
  • To examine the associations between these exposure patterns and respiratory outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 1063 children in the PARIS cohort, measuring lung function (FEV1, FVC) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) at age 8.
  • Estimated daily concentrations of total pollen, nine pollen taxa, particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3).
  • Employed multidimensional longitudinal cluster analysis to group children by similar exposure profiles and used multivariable regression models to assess associations.

Main Results:

  • Identified four exposure clusters: low pollution/no pollen, grass pollen, PM10, and high pollen (birch/plane-tree).
  • Children exposed to grass pollen showed significantly lower FEV1 and FVC compared to the low exposure group.
  • Exposure to PM10 was associated with higher FeNO levels. Associations were stronger in children with current asthma, suggesting a joint effect of grass pollen and air pollution.

Conclusions:

  • Daily variations in ambient chemical and biological air quality can adversely impact children's lung function.
  • Specific pollen types (grass) and air pollutants (PM10) are associated with reduced lung function and increased airway inflammation.
  • The findings highlight the importance of considering combined exposures for effective respiratory health management in children.
Abstract

Keywords:
respiratory measurement

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