title: Ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and pulmonary function in children.
abstract: Few studies have examined the relationship between ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and pulmonary function in children. Major sources include vehicular emissions, home heating, wildland fires, agricultural burning, and power plants. PAHs are an important component of fine particulate matter that has been linked to respiratory health. This cross-sectional study examines the relationship between estimated individual exposures to the sum of PAHs with 4, 5, or 6 rings (PAH456) and pulmonary function tests (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity) in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children. We applied land-use regression to estimate individual exposures to ambient PAHs for averaging periods ranging from 1 week to 1 year. We used linear regression to estimate the relationship between exposure to PAH456 with pre- and postbronchodilator pulmonary function tests in children in Fresno, California (N=297). Among non-asthmatics, there was a statistically significant association between PAH456 during the previous 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year and postbronchodilator FEV1. The magnitude of the association increased with the length of the averaging period ranging from 60 to 110 ml decrease in FEV1 for each 1 ng/m(3) increase in PAH456. There were no associations with PAH456 observed among asthmatic children. We identified an association between annual PAHs and chronic pulmonary function in children without asthma. Additional studies are needed to further explore the association between exposure to PAHs and pulmonary function, especially with regard to differential effects between asthmatic and non-asthmatic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Padula
authors.affiliation: 1] Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA [2] Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Balmes
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Eisen
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Noth
authors.affiliation: Sonoma Technology, Petaluma, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Frederick W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Lurmann
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Boriana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ira B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Tager
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nadeau
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: S Katharine
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hammond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates / Q000187:drug effects; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016014:Linear Models; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons