The influence of large-scale airborne particle decline and traffic-related exposure on children's lung function.
Between 1991 and 2000, ambient air pollution in East Germany changed to resemble West German pollution levels: The concentration of total suspended particles (TSPs) decreased on a broad scale while traffic increased. During that time, we analyzed total lung capacity (TLC) and airway resistance (R(aw)) of East and West German children. We tested children 5-7 years of age (n = 2,574) with cooperation-independent body plethysmography in repeated cross sections. We used random-effect models to determine the mutually adjusted association between lung function and short-term and chronic particle exposure and its interaction with living near a busy road. Annual averages of TSPs declined from 77 to 44 microg/m2; averages on the day of investigation declined from 133 to 30 microg/m2. Differences in lung function between East and West German children vanished during the investigation time. The association of TSPs with R(aw) and TLC was stronger in children living > 50 m away from busy roads. East German children from this group had an R(aw) 2.5% higher [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.0-5.1%] per 40-microg/m2 increase of daily TSP averages. TLC decreased by 6.2% (95% CI, 0.04-11.6%) per 40-microg/m2 increase in annual mean TSPs, and this effect was equally pronounced in East and West Germany. TSP exposure decreased on a broad scale between 1991 and 2000. Lower concentrations of TSPs were associated with better measures of lung function in 6-year-old children. For children living near busy roads, this effect was diminished.
Sugiri
Dorothea
D
Institut für umweltmedizinische Forschung an der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. sugiri@uni-duesseldorf.de
Ranft
Ulrich
U
Schikowski
Tamara
T
Krämer
Ursula
U
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D010316:Particle Size; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions