title: Long-term exposure to traffic emissions and fine particulate matter and lung function decline in the Framingham heart study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined associations between long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and lung function decline in adults.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if exposure to traffic and PM2.5 is associated with longitudinal changes in lung function in a population-based cohort in the Northeastern United States, where pollution levels are relatively low.
  
  
  METHODS
  FEV1 and FVC were measured up to two times between 1995 and 2011 among 6,339 participants of the Framingham Offspring or Third Generation studies. We tested associations between residential proximity to a major roadway and PM2.5 exposure in 2001 (estimated by a land-use model using satellite measurements of aerosol optical thickness) and lung function. We examined differences in average lung function using mixed-effects models and differences in lung function decline using linear regression models. Current smokers were excluded. Models were adjusted for age, sex, height, weight, pack-years, socioeconomic status indicators, cohort, time, season, and weather.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Living less than 100 m from a major roadway was associated with a 23.2 ml (95% confidence interval [CI], -44.4 to -1.9) lower FEV1 and a 5.0 ml/yr (95% CI, -9.0 to -0.9) faster decline in FEV1 compared with more than 400 m. Each 2 μg/m(3) increase in average of PM2.5 was associated with a 13.5 ml (95% CI, -26.6 to -0.3) lower FEV1 and a 2.1 ml/yr (95% CI, -4.1 to -0.2) faster decline in FEV1. There were similar associations with FVC. Associations with FEV1/FVC ratio were weak or absent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term exposure to traffic and PM2.5, at relatively low levels, was associated with lower FEV1 and FVC and an accelerated rate of lung function decline.
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Petter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ljungman
authors.forename: Elissa H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Wilker
authors.forename: Kirsten S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Dorans
authors.forename: Diane R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koutrakis
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Washko
authors.forename: George T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Murray A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mittleman
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: air pollution; asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; particulate matter; respiratory function tests