title: Lung radiology and pulmonary function of children chronically exposed to air pollution.
abstract: We analyzed the chest radiographs (CXRs) of 249 clinically healthy children, 230 from southwest Mexico City and 19 from Tlaxcala. In contrast to children from Tlaxcala, children from southwest Mexico City were chronically exposed to ozone levels exceeding the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for an average of 4.7 hr/day and to concentrations of particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameters </= 2.5 microm (PM2.5) above the annual standard. CXRs of Mexico City children demonstrated bilateral hyperinflation (151 of 230) and increased linear markings (121 of 230) . Hyperinflation and interstitial markings were significantly more common in Mexico City children (p < 0.0002 and 0.00006 respectively) . Mexico City boys had a higher probability of developing interstitial markings with age (p = 0.004) . Computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained in 25 selected Mexico City children with abnormal CXRs. Mild bronchial wall thickening was seen in 10 of 25, prominent central airways in 4 of 25, air trapping in 8 of 21, and pulmonary nodules in 2 of 21. Only 7.8% of Mexico City children had abnormal lung function tests based on predicted values. These findings are consistent with bronchiolar, peribronchiolar, and/or alveolar duct inflammation, possibly caused by ozone, PM, and lipopolysaccharide exposure. The epidemiologic implications of these findings are important for children residing in polluted environments, because bronchiolar disease could lead to chronic pulmonary disease later in life.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calderón-Garcidueñas
authors.forename: Antonieta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mora-Tiscareño
authors.forename: Lynn A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Fordham
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Gildardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valencia-Salazar
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flores-Gómez
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Solt
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomez-del Campo
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jardón-Torres
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henríquez-Roldán
authors.forename: Milan J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hazucha
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D010126:Ozone