Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Measuring Carbon Content in Airway Macrophages Exposed to Carbon-Containing Particulate Matters
Published on: July 12, 2024
Prenatal PM2 .5 Exposure and Airway Mechanics in Taiwanese Schoolchildren: Identifying Critical Windows of
Hsin-Yi Huang1,2, Hui-Ju Tsai3,4, Chih-Da Wu5,6,7,8
1Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Insights
Prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is linked to impaired childhood airway mechanics, especially during late pregnancy. Minimizing exposure is crucial for long-term respiratory health in children.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Air Pollution Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood lung function impairment is linked to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure.
- The specific impact of prenatal PM2.5 exposure on childhood airway mechanics is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal exposure to PM2.5 and airway mechanics in school-aged children.
- To identify critical windows of vulnerability during pregnancy for PM2.5 exposure effects.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 1324 children in a Taiwanese population-based cohort.
- Estimation of prenatal PM2.5 exposure using advanced modeling techniques (hybrid kriging-land use regression with XGBoost).
- Measurement of airway mechanics via impulse oscillometry.
Main Results:
- Increased prenatal PM2.5 exposure correlated with higher airway resistance and impedance in children.
- Sensitive exposure windows were identified during late pregnancy (e.g., 26-34 weeks).
- Stronger adverse effects were observed in girls, children exposed to prenatal tobacco smoke, and those not breastfed.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal PM2.5 exposure, particularly in late pregnancy, is associated with adverse airway mechanics in children.
- Specific subgroups (girls, those exposed to smoke, not breastfed) are more vulnerable.
- Reducing PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy is vital for protecting children's respiratory health.
Background And Objective:
Exposure to ambient particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) is associated with lung function impairment, particularly in children. However, the impact of prenatal PM2.5 exposure on childhood airway mechanics remains unclear. We aimed to assess associations between prenatal PM2.5 exposure and airway mechanics in school-age children.
Methods:
Data from 1324 singleton children (745 boys, 56.3%; mean age, 6.5 years) participating in a population-based cohort in Taiwan were analysed. Prenatal ambient PM2.5 exposure near residence was estimated using hybrid kriging-land use regression models with an XGBoost algorithm. Airway mechanics were measured by impulse oscillometry.
Results:
Each 10 μg/m3 increase in prenatal PM2.5 exposure across the entire pregnancy was associated with higher total airway resistance (R5: β, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.30-1.03), proximal airway resistance (R20: β, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.12-0.62), peripheral airway resistance (R5-R20: β, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.05-0.55), and airway impedance (Z5) (β, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.21-0.94). Distributed lag nonlinear models identified sensitive windows during late pregnancy: 30-34 gestational weeks for R5, 30-34 gestational weeks for Z5, and at 26-33 gestational weeks for AX, respectively. Stratified analyses indicated stronger associations in girls, children exposed to prenatal environmental tobacco smoke, and those not breastfed.
Conclusion:
Higher prenatal PM2.5 exposure, particularly during late pregnancy, may be associated with adverse changes in airway mechanics in school-age children, especially girls, children exposed to prenatal environmental tobacco smoke, and those not breastfed, highlighting the importance of minimizing PM2.5 exposure during late pregnancy to protect long-term respiratory health.
