Traffic-related air pollution near busy roads: the East Bay Children's Respiratory Health Study.
Recent studies, primarily in Europe, have reported associations between respiratory symptoms and residential proximity to traffic; however, few have measured traffic pollutants or provided information about local air quality. We conducted a school-based, cross-sectional study in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2001. Information on current bronchitis symptoms and asthma, home environment, and demographics was obtained by parental questionnaire (n = 1,109). Concentrations of traffic pollutants (particulate matter, black carbon, total nitrogen oxides [NO(X)], and nitrogen dioxide [NO(2)]) were measured at 10 school sites during several seasons. Although pollutant concentrations were relatively low, we observed differences in concentrations between schools nearby versus those more distant (or upwind) from major roads. Using a two-stage multiple-logistic regression model, we found associations between respiratory symptoms and traffic-related pollutants. Among those living at their current residence for at least 1 year, the adjusted odds ratio for asthma in relationship to an interquartile difference in NO(X) was 1.07 (95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.14). Thus, we found spatial variability in traffic pollutants and associated differences in respiratory symptoms in a region with good air quality. Our findings support the hypothesis that traffic-related pollution is associated with respiratory symptoms in children.
Kim
Janice J
JJ
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 1515 Clay Street, 16th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612, USA.
Smorodinsky
Svetlana
S
Lipsett
Michael
M
Singer
Brett C
BC
Hodgson
Alfred T
AT
Ostro
Bart
B
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000209:etiology*; D002244:Carbon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012495:San Francisco; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
D000393:Air Pollutants; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D002244:Carbon