Outdoor Air Pollution and Lung Function in Middle-Aged Adults of the ELISABET Study

Abstract

The impact of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution on lung function remains insufficiently studied in adults. Our aim was to study the associations between long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, including industrial and urban exposures, and lung function in middle-aged adults.The analyses were conducted among 2994 adults (53 years old in average, 47% men) from the Enquête Littoral Souffle Air Biologie Environment (ELISABET, 2011-2013), a French cross-sectional survey. Air pollutant levels (NO2, PM10 and SO2) were estimated at the participants’ residential address by ATMO Nord-Pas-de-Calais, in Lille and Dunkirk urban areas. The lung function tests were performed according to the ATS/ERS guidelines, and FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second), FVC (Forced Vital Capacity), FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF25-75 (Forced Expiratory Flow between 25 and 75% of the FVC) were used. Linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, height, year of inclusion, center, investigator, smoking status, body mass index, educational level and occupational exposure to dusts and fumes were conducted.An increase of 5 µg/m3 in NO2 was associated with lower FEV1 (–1.37%, 95%CI –2.05 to –0.69), lower FVC (–0.84%, 95%CI –1.45 to –0.23), lower FEV1/FVC (–0.47%, 95%CI –0.77 to –0.17) and lower FEF25-75 (–2.71%, 95%CI –4.20 to –1.21). An increase of 2 µg/m3 in PM10 was associated with lower FEV1 (–1.31%, 95%CI –2.06 to –0.55), lower FVC (–0.81%, 95%CI –1.49 to –0.13), lower FEV1/FVC (–0.43%, 95%CI –0.77 to –0.10) and lower FEF25-75 (–2.44%, 95%CI –4.10 to –0.78). An increase of 2 µg/m3 in SO2 was associated with lower FEV1 (–1.33%, 95%CI –2.27 to –0.39), lower FEV1/FVC (–0.52%, 95%CI –0.92 to –0.11), lower FEF25-75 (–2.70%, 95%CI –4.82 to –0.59), but was not significantly associated with lower FVC (–0.77%, 95%CI –1.62 to 0.09).Our results add evidence of the impact of urban and industrial outdoor air pollution on lung function in adults from northern France.