title: Non-specific abdominal pain and air pollution: a novel association.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We studied whether short-term exposure to air pollution was associated with non-specific abdominal pain in epidemiologic and animal studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients visiting the emergency department with non-specific abdominal pain were identified in Edmonton (1992 to 2002, n = 95,173) and Montreal (1997 to 2002, n = 25,852). We calculated the daily concentrations for ozone (O(3)), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), carbon monoxide (CO), and particles <10 (PM(10)) or <2.5 (PM(2.5)) µm. A case crossover study design was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) associated with an increase in the interquartile range of the air pollutants. We investigated differential effects by age and sex. Mice were gavaged with urban particle extracts. In animal models, colonic motility was tested, and visceral abdominal pain was measured using a writhing test, and behavioral response to oil of mustard and neostigmine. Motility and pain was measured acutely (1.5 hours after gavage) and chronically (7-days and 21-days after gavage).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Emergency department visits for non-specific abdominal pain were primarily by women between the ages of 15-24 years. Individuals aged 15 to 24 years were at increased risk of non-specific abdominal pain in Edmonton (same day CO: OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02-1.06; and NO(2): OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.03-1.09). The risk of air pollution among 15-24 year olds in Montreal was significantly positive (same day CO: OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.05-1.17; NO(2): OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01-1.16; SO(2): OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.10-1.25; PM(2.5): OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.04-1.15). Abdominal pain was increased by an acute gavage of pollution extract but not to chronic exposure to pollutants. Colonic transit was delayed following chronic but not acute exposure with the pollutants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epidemiological and animal data suggest that short-term exposure to air pollution may trigger non-specific abdominal pain in young individuals.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Gilaad G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Mieczyslaw
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szyszkowicz
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fichna
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Eugeniusz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porada
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Subrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Storr
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D010126:Ozone / Q000633:toxicity; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D010126:Ozone; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide