Traffic-related Air Pollution In Children Research Articles

Residential Proximity to Roadways and Children’s Behaviour and Psychomotor Development: findings from the Mothers and their Children’s Health study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Evidence is growing on the adverse neurodevelopment effects of traffic-related air pollution in children. This study explored the role of multiple exposure periods based on residential proximity to roadways on behaviour and early development in children 13 years. METHODS: Data were from 2016/17 Mothers and their Children’s Health study, a sub-study from a prospective longitudinal study called Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH). We geocoded mother’s residential addresses at each ALSWH survey wave since 1996, and calculated distance to major roadways including roadway density in 100, 200 and 500 metre buffers as measures of traffic-related air pollution. Child outcomes were maternal-rated behaviour problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; SDQ, aged 2-12 years, n=5,471 children) and developmental delays in communication and gross motor (Ages and Stages Questionnaire; ASQ, aged 1-66 months, n=1,265 children). Defined exposure periods calculated were roadway proximity before birth, children’s lifetime, and mothers’ long-term exposure. We performed logistic regression to estimate odds ratio (OR) for each child outcome, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS:Although not statistically significant, children who lived ≤ 200m compared to 200m away from major roads had ORs1 for poor behaviour and gross motor delay across all periods of exposure. Similar findings were observed in fully-adjusted models for road density of all road types in 100 and 200m buffers. However, this was only present for two exposure periods, children’s lifetime and mothers’ long-term exposure to road proximity. Residing closer to roadways prior to birth was associated with behaviour problems (e.g. [OR 1.16; 95% CI 0.83- 1.62] and [1.39; 0.82- 2.34] for all road types and major roads only in 200m buffer, respectively). Findings were mixed for communication delays in younger children due to small sample size (n=57). CONCLUSIONS:No evidence of a significant association was present between road proximity and children’s behaviour and early development. KEYWORDS: Neurodevelopmental outcomes, Traffic-related, Epidemiology

Atopic Diseases, Allergic Sensitization, and Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution in Children

Morgenstern V, Zutavern A, Cyrys J, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008;177(12):1331–1337PURPOSE OF THE STUDY. To assess the relationship between exposure to traffic-related air pollutants and allergic disease outcomes in a prospective birth cohort during the first 6 years of life.METHODS. A birth cohort of 3061 children in the Munich, Germany, metropolitan area were followed with serial questionnaires of their parents inquiring about asthma, hay fever, and eczema. Specific immunoglobulin E against common allergens was determined at the age of 6 years. Air pollution measurements were made for particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter and nitrogen dioxide. Distances between the children's street address and the nearest main road were noted. Outcomes of atopic disease and allergic sensitization were compared with the children's exposure to the pollutants.RESULTS. Positive associations were found between the distance to the nearest main road and asthma, hay fever, eczema, and sensitization, with the highest odds ratios (ORs) for children living <50 m from busy streets. For particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter, statistically significant effects were found for asthma (OR: 1.56 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–2.37]), hay fever (OR: 1.59 [95% CI: 1.11–2.27]), and allergic sensitization to pollen (OR: 1.40 [95% CI: 1.20–1.64]). Nitrogen dioxide exposure was associated with eczema, whereas no association was found for allergic sensitization.CONCLUSIONS. The results provide strong evidence for the adverse effects of traffic-related air pollutants on atopic diseases and allergic sensitization.REVIEWER COMMENTS. Several previous studies suggested an association between exposure to air pollution and the development of atopic sensitization and disease. This study supports that connection, even adding a “dose-response” element in which the closer you live to a busy street, the more likely you are to develop allergic disease.

Atopic Diseases, Allergic Sensitization, and Exposure to Traffic-related Air Pollution in Children

In vitro studies, animal experiments, and human exposure studies have shown how ambient air pollution increases the risk of atopic diseases. However, results derived from observational studies are inconsistent. To assess the relationship between individual-based exposure to traffic-related air pollutants and allergic disease outcomes in a prospective birth cohort study during the first 6 years of life. We studied 2,860 children at the age of 4 years and 3,061 at the age of 6 years to investigate atopic diseases and allergic sensitization. Long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM(2.5)), PM(2.5) absorbance, and long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) was assessed at residential addresses using geographic information systems based regression models and air pollution measurements. The distance to the nearest main road was used as a surrogate for traffic-related air pollutants. Strong positive associations were found between the distance to the nearest main road and asthmatic bronchitis, hay fever, eczema, and sensitization. A distance-dependent relationship could be identified, with the highest odds ratios (ORs) for children living less than 50 m from busy streets. For PM(2.5) absorbance, statistically significant effects were found for asthmatic bronchitis (OR, 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-2.37), hay fever (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.11-2.27), and allergic sensitization to pollen (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.20-1.64). NO(2) exposure was associated with eczema, whereas no association was found for allergic sensitization. This study provides strong evidence for increased risk of atopic diseases and allergic sensitization when children are exposed to ambient particulate matter.

Atopic diseases, allergic sensitisation and exposure to traffic-related air pollution in children

Atopic diseases, allergic sensitisation and exposure to traffic-related air pollution in children

Heavy Traffic Can Be a Pain in the . . . Ear?: Vehicle Emissions Linked to Otitis Media

Traffic is a major source of air pollutants, and more studies are looking at the role of traffic-related air pollution in children’s health. Researchers report in this issue that young children exposed to higher levels of traffic pollution have a greater incidence of otitis media (middle ear infections) than those exposed to lower levels [EHP 114:1414–1418; Brauer et al.]. In 2002, the same team found that such pollution increased the risk for asthma and upper respiratory tract infections in young children. Now they focus on otitis media because upper respiratory tract infections often progress to ear infections, which are one of the leading reasons for visits to doctors and the use of antibiotics in childhood.

Long-term personal exposure to traffic-related air pollution among school children, a validation study

Several recent studies suggest an association between long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution and health. Most studies use indicators of exposure such as outdoor air pollution or traffic density on the street of residence. Little information is available about the validity of these measurements as an estimate of long-term personal exposure to traffic-related air pollution. In this pilot study, we assessed outdoor and personal exposure to traffic-related air pollution in children living in homes on streets with different degree of traffic intensity.The personal exposure of 14 children aged 9–12 years to ‘soot’, NOx (NO and NO2) was assessed in Amsterdam between March and June 2003. Each child's personal exposure was monitored during four repeated 48-h periods. Concurrently, in- and outdoor NOx measurements were carried out at the school and at the home of each participating child. Measurements were supplemented by a questionnaire on time activity patterns and possible indoor sources. Flow-controlled battery operated pumps in a made-to-fit backpack were used to sample personal exposure to ‘soot’, determined from the reflectance of PM2.5 filters. Exposure to NOx was assessed using Ogawa passive samplers. Children living near busy roads were found to have a 35% higher personal exposure to ‘soot’ than children living at an urban background location, despite that all children attended the same school that was located away from busy roads. Smaller contrasts in personal exposure were found for NO (14%), NO2 (15%) and NOx (14%). This finding supports the use of ‘living near a busy road’ as a measure of exposure in epidemiological studies on the effects of traffic-related air pollution in children.

Application of a geographic information system to explore associations between air pollution and micronucleus frequencies in African American children and adults

Exposure to air pollution has been associated with adverse respiratory and cardiovascular health outcomes in both children and adults. In this study, we used geographic information systems (GISs) to explore possible associations between chromosomal damage in 65 African American children and their mothers from Oakland, California, and both proximity to traffic and regional ozone levels. Study participants were interviewed at the Healthy Child Clinic of Children's Hospital, Oakland, and their blood and buccal cells were collected for assessment of chromosomal damage by the micronucleus (MN) assay. Regional ozone levels, which decreased from April to November with a secondary peak in late summer, were highly correlated with season by month (r=-0.84, P=0.02) and strongly associated with MN frequency (frequency ratio (FR): 3.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30-8.72) in both cell types of children and adults. Additionally, MN frequencies were modestly associated with individual measures of traffic density in children (FR=2.45, 95% CI=0.86-7.10), but not in adults; this suggests a greater vulnerability to traffic-related air pollution in children. Smoking in the household also increased MN frequency in the lymphocytes of children (FR: 1.13, 95%CI: 1.01-1.24) and adults (FR: 1.06, 95%CI: 0.99-1.13), whereas vitamin use in adults decreased MN frequency in both lymphocytes and buccal cells (FR: 0.17, 95%CI: 0.02-1.31; FR: 0.18, 95%CI: 0.03-1.18, respectively). Our data indicate that GIS-generated measures of traffic density for individual households augment regional ozone monitoring data used to assess effects of air pollution. This approach helped to demonstrate elevated cytogenetic damage in exposed minority children.