Early-life exposure to air pollution and lung function development into adolescence: the GINIplus/LISA birth cohorts

Abstract

Background: Limited evidence exists on how exposure to air pollution during infancy may affect lung function development into adolescence. Objectives: To investigate the association between early-life air pollution exposure and change in lung function until age 15. Methods: In the GINIplus and LISA birth cohorts, 915 children from two German regions, Munich and Wesel, were investigated, who had at least two spirometric measurements at the age six, 10 and 15. Z-scores of FEV1 and FVC were calculated according to reference values for children in Germany. Annual average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter with diameters Results: In Wesel, for per interquartile range increase in air pollutants during the first year of life, z-scores declined annually by -0.009 (95%CI: -0.011; -0.007) to -0.021 (95%CI: -0.026; -0.015) for FEV1, and by -0.004 (95%CI: -0.006; -0.002) to -0.010 (95%CI: -0.016; -0.004) for FVC. In Munich, the attenuations were only statistically significant for FEV1 [range: -0.017 (95%CI: -0.027; -0.007) to -0.027 (95%CI: -0.047; -0.008)]. Reduced lung function was higher for children who developed asthma between 3-15 years (although insignificant) and for those with breastfeeding less than 12 weeks. Conclusions: Early-life exposure to higher air pollution was associated with reduced lung function until adolescence. Breastfeeding may potentially reduce the risk of early air pollution on impaired lung function.