title: Risk of bronchi obstruction among non-smokers--review of environmental factors affecting bronchoconstriction.
abstract: In order to find relationship between exposure to traffic and traffic-related air pollutants, pulmonary function tests and a detailed questionnaire were conducted among 3997 selected inhabitants of Warsaw (Poland) and 988 residents of rural areas. Advanced statistical analyses (including GRM models, correspondence analysis and parametrical tests) have been completed. Statistically significant differences between average percentages of predicted values of pulmonary function parameters were found. Among urban area inhabitants the values of FEV1, MEF50 and FEV1/FVC were statistically significant (p<0.05) lower compared with the residents of rural areas (in the non-smoking group this differences were strong (p<0.001)). General linear regression models indicated that residence in the vicinity of urban busy roads fosters a decrease of spirometric parameters. Physical activity however has a positive effect on pulmonary function (exemplified by FEV1) and allows to reduce part of the negative health effects of traffic-related emissions. The results of the presented study demonstrate that long-term residence under the influence of heavy traffic and high concentrations of traffic-related air pollutants reduces respiratory function parameters, which may result in increased bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
authors.affiliation: Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw, Poland; Polish Federation of Asthma, Allergy and COPD Patients' Associations, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: artur.badyda@is.pw.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Artur Jerzy
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Badyda
authors.affiliation: Military Institute of Medicine, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of National Defence, Warsaw, Poland; Polish Federation of Asthma, Allergy and COPD Patients' Associations, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dąbrowiecki
authors.affiliation: Gdynia Maritime University, Department of Information Systems, Gdynia, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr Oskar
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Czechowski
authors.affiliation: Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Majewski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Bronchi obstruction; FEV1; General regression models; Pulmonary function; Traffic-related air pollutants; Urban environment