title: Effects of ambient fine particles on pulmonary function in children with mild atopic dermatitis.
abstract: The effects of particulate pollutants on lung function in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) remain to be determined. The authors investigated the short-term effects of ambient particles on peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in 84 children with and without AD. Daily particulates less than 10, 2.5, and 1 μm (PM(10), PM(2.5), and PM(1)) and number concentrations of submicron particles were measured. The authors observed elevated levels of PM(10), PM(2.5), and PM(1), and accumulation-mode particles were associated with decreased PEFR in children with AD. The PEFR decrements were -2.89 L/min (95% confidence interval [CI], -4.93 to -0.89) for an interquartile-range increase of previous-day PM(10), -2.79 L/min (95% CI, -4.89 to -0.69) for PM(2.5), and -2.71 L/min (95% CI, -4.81 to -0.61) for PM(1). These results suggest that ambient fine particles may affect the pulmonary function in children with AD. The respiratory health of children with atopic skin disorders renders them more vulnerable to ambient particles than healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Republic of Korea. sanghwan@korea.kr
authors.forename: Sanghwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Domyung
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paek
authors.forename: Kiyoung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chulwoo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chunghee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung-Do
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter