Abstract
Outdoor fungi are important components of airborne particulate matter (PM). However, the associations between pulmonary function and outdoor fungi are less well known compared to other airborne PM constituents. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between outdoor fungi and pulmonary function in children. Morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) rates were measured daily in 339 schoolchildren (including 36 with asthma), aged 10 to 12, 2 to 27 February 2015. Airborne PM was collected on filters, using a high volume air sampler, each day during the study period. The daily concentration of outdoor fungi-associated PM was calculated using a culture-based method. A linear mixed model was used to estimate the association between PEF values and daily concentrations of outdoor fungi, and the daily levels of suspended PM (SPM) and PM ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5). An increase in the interquartile range (46.2 CFU/m3) for outdoor fungal concentration led to PEF changes of −1.18 L/min (95% confidence interval, −2.27 to −0.08) in all children, 1.22 L/min (−2.96 to 5.41) in children without asthma, and −1.44 L/min (−2.57 to −0.32) in children with asthma. Outdoor fungi showed a significant negative correlation with PM2.5 levels (r = −0.4, p = 0.04), but not with SPM (r = ‒0.3, p = 0.10) levels. Outdoor fungi may be associated with pulmonary dysfunction in children. Furthermore, children with asthma may show greater pulmonary dysfunction than those without asthma.
Highlights
A number of epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between airborne particulate matter (PM) and respiratory disorders [1,2]
Results of the estimated changes in peak expiratory flow (PEF) values for IQR increases in exposure to suspended particulate matter (SPM), PM2.5, and Results ofthe the estimated estimated in values for in in exposure to SPM, PMPM
The dailyfungal fungal concentrations were significantly associated with 3 in fungal values in all children and in children with asthma, with an increase of CFU/m concentration the PEF
Summary
A number of epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between airborne particulate matter (PM) and respiratory disorders [1,2]. Several reviews and meta–analyses have demonstrated the effects of airborne PM on pulmonary function in children [3,4,5,6]. The results of each study showed considerable variability. Airborne PM is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets originating from various natural and anthropogenic sources [7]. The constituents and components of airborne PM differ according to area and season [8,9].
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