Exposures to particulate matters and childhood sleep disorders-A large study in three provinces in China

Evidence on the link between long-term ambient particulate matter (PM) exposures and childhood sleep disorders were scarce. We examined the associations between long-term exposures to PM_2.5 and PM₁ (PM with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter <2.5 μm and <1 μm, respectively) with sleep disorders in children.

We performed a population-based cross-sectional survey in 177,263 children aged 6 to 18 years in 14 Chinese cities during 2012-2018. A satellite-based spatiotemporal model was employed to estimate four-year annual average PM_2.5 and PM₁ exposures at residential and school addresses. Parents or guardians completed a checklist using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children. We estimated the associations using generalized linear mixed models with adjustment for characteristics of children, parents, and indoor environments.

Long-term PM_2.5 and PM₁ exposures were positively associated with odds of sleep disorders for almost all domains. For example, increments in PM_2.5 and PM₁ per 10 μg/m³ were associated with odds ratios of global sleep disorder of 1.24 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.14, 1.35) and 1.31 (95 %CI: 1.18, 1.46), respectively. Similar results were observed for subtypes of sleep disorder. These associations were heterogeneous regionally, with stronger associations among children residing in southeast region than in northeast and northwest regions. Moreover, larger estimates of PM₁ were found than that of PM_2.5 in southeast region.

Long-term PM_2.5 and PM₁ exposures are independently associated with higher risks of childhood sleep disorders, and these associations vary by geographical region.