Short-term air pollution exposure decreases lung function: a repeated measures study in healthy adults

Luc Int Panis,Tim Nawrot,Patrick De Boever,Arnout Standaert,Bianca Cox,Tijs Louwies,Evi Dons,Luc Holmstock,Eline B Provost,Michelle Laeremans

doi:10.1186/s12940-017-0271-z

Abstract

BackgroundDaily changes in ambient concentrations of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and ozone are associated with increased cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality, with the lungs and their function being a vulnerable target.MethodsTo evaluate the association between daily changes in air pollution and lung function in healthy adults we obtained annual lung function measurements from a routine worker health surveillance program not designed for research purposes. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC and Peak Expiratory flow (PEF) from a cohort of 2449 employees were associated with daily measurements of PM10, NO2 and ozone at a nearby monitoring station in the North of Belgium. Repeated measures were available for the period 2011–2015.ResultsThe mean (SD) PM10 concentration on the day of the lung function test was 24.9 (15.5) μg/m3. A 10 μg PM10/m3 increase on the day of the clinical examination was associated with a 18.9 ml lower FVC (95% CI: -27.5 to −10.3, p < 0.0001), 12.8 ml lower FEV1 (−19.1 to −6.5; p < 0.0001), and a 51.4 ml/s lower PEF (−75.0 to −27.0; p < 0.0001). The FEV1/FVC-ratio showed no associations. An increase of 10 μgNO2/m3 was associated with a reduction in PEF (−66.1 ml/s (−106.6 to −25.6; p < 0.001)) on the day of the examination.ConclusionsWe found negative associations between daily variations in ambient air pollution and FVC, FEV1 and PEF in healthy adults.

Highlights

Changes in ambient concentrations of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and ozone are associated with increased cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality, with the lungs and their function being a vulnerable target
Forced expiratory flow was negatively associated with fine particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and traffic-related nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations, whereas Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) were most consistently associated with ultrafine particles
All employees of the organizations SCK●CEN, VITO, BELGOPROCESS, BELGONUCLEAIRE and the European School undergo an annual check-up at the SCK●CEN medical centre, including a lung function test based on spirometry

Summary

Introduction

Changes in ambient concentrations of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and ozone are associated with increased cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality, with the lungs and their function being a vulnerable target. Air pollution exposure contributes to all-cause morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological studies indicate that short-term exposure to increased fine particulate matter concentration triggers negative health effects. The short-term effects of air pollution exposure on lung function have predominantly been investigated in vulnerable subgroups such as children and asthmatics. In a landmark study in London, traffic-related air pollution exposure immediately induced adverse pulmonary effects in adult asthmatics [4]. Forced expiratory flow was negatively associated with fine particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and traffic-related nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations, whereas FEV1 and FVC were most consistently associated with ultrafine particles

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