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Association between air pollutants and blood cell counts in pediatric patients with asthma: a retrospective
Kuo-Chen Huang1, Hsiu-Yung Pan1, Ting-Min Hsieh2
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, No. 123, Dapi Road, Niaosong Township, Kaohsiung County 833, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Insights
Air pollution, including PM2.5 and PM10, is linked to increased absolute neutrophil count (ANC), eosinophil count, and platelet count in children with asthma. These findings highlight the impact of environmental factors on pediatric respiratory health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Hematology
Background:
- Asthma is a prevalent respiratory condition in children.
- Air pollution is a known risk factor for pediatric asthma.
- The specific effects of air pollution on blood cell counts in pediatric asthma patients are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between exposure to ambient air pollutants and blood cell counts in children with asthma.
- To determine if specific air pollutants correlate with changes in absolute neutrophil count (ANC), eosinophil count, and platelet count.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective observational study was conducted from 2007 to 2018.
- Data from 17-year-old emergency department patients with asthma were analyzed.
- Blood cell counts (ANC, eosinophils, platelets) and air pollutant concentrations (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, O3) were extracted and correlated.
Main Results:
- Increased levels of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and O3 were positively associated with higher ANC.
- PM2.5, PM10, and SO2 showed a positive correlation with eosinophil count.
- PM2.5 and PM10 were positively associated with platelet count.
- The associations remained significant even after adjusting for other pollutants, particularly for PM2.5 and PM10.
Conclusions:
- Particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are independently associated with elevated ANC in pediatric asthma patients.
- PM2.5 and PM10 are positively linked to increased platelet counts.
- These findings underscore the significant relationship between air quality and hematological parameters in children with asthma.
Background:
Asthma is a common respiratory disease in children, and air pollution is a risk factor for pediatric asthma. However, how air pollution affects blood cells in pediatric patients with asthma remains unclear.
Methods:
This retrospective observational study, performed in 2007-2018 at a medical center, enrolled non-trauma patients aged < 17 years who visited the emergency department and had asthma. Medical records and blood cell counts, including absolute neutrophil count (ANC), eosinophil count, and platelet count were extracted. The concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) were measured from 11 air-monitoring stations in Kaohsiung City.
Results:
One-unit increases in PM2.5 (regression coefficient: 25.618; S.E.: 5.937; p < 0.001), PM10 (19.97; 3.541; p < 0.001), NO2 (70.681; 15.857; p < 0.001), SO2 (81.694; 30.339; p = 0.007), and O3 (23.42; 8.831; p = 0.022) on lag 0-6 (7 d average) correlated positively with ANC. One-unit increases in PM2.5 (0.859; 0.357; p = 0.016), PM10 (0.728; 0.213; p = 0.001), and SO2 (4.086; 1.811; p = 0.024) on lag 0-6 correlated positively with eosinophil count. Additionally, one-unit increases in PM2.5 (0.302; 0.101; p = 0.003) and PM10 (0.229; 0.06; p < 0.001) on lag 0-6 correlated positively with platelet count. In a two-pollutant model, the impacts of PM2.5 and PMC on ANC and platelet count remained statistically significant after adjusting for other air pollutants. Additionally, PMC correlated significantly with eosinophil count after adjusting for PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and O3. Quartile increases in PM2.5 and PMC levels correlated positively with ANC, eosinophil count, and platelet count (all p for trend < 0.05).
Conclusions:
PM2.5, PMC, and NO2 were independently and positively associated with ANC, PMC was positively associated with eosinophil count, and PM2.5 and PMC were positively associated with platelet count in pediatric patients with asthma. Our results highlight the relationship between air pollution and blood cell counts in pediatric patients with asthma.
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