title: Effects of Air Pollution and the Introduction of the London Low Emission Zone on the Prevalence of Respiratory and Allergic Symptoms in Schoolchildren in East London: A Sequential Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: The adverse effects of traffic-related air pollution on children's respiratory health have been widely reported, but few studies have evaluated the impact of traffic-control policies designed to reduce urban air pollution. We assessed associations between traffic-related air pollutants and respiratory/allergic symptoms amongst 8-9 year-old schoolchildren living within the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ). Information on respiratory/allergic symptoms was obtained using a parent-completed questionnaire and linked to modelled annual air pollutant concentrations based on the residential address of each child, using a multivariable mixed effects logistic regression analysis. Exposure to traffic-related air pollutants was associated with current rhinitis: NOx (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02), NO2 (1.03, 1.00-1.06), PM10 (1.16, 1.04-1.28) and PM2.5 (1.38, 1.08-1.78), all per μg/m3 of pollutant, but not with other respiratory/allergic symptoms. The LEZ did not reduce ambient air pollution levels, or affect the prevalence of respiratory/allergic symptoms over the period studied. These data confirm the previous association between traffic-related air pollutant exposures and symptoms of current rhinitis. Importantly, the London LEZ has not significantly improved air quality within the city, or the respiratory health of the resident population in its first three years of operation. This highlights the need for more robust measures to reduce traffic emissions.
authors: MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Helen E
authors: HE
authors: Wood
authors: Asthma UK Centre for Applied Asthma Research, Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Nadine
authors: N
authors: Marlin
authors: MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Ian S
authors: IS
authors: Mudway
authors: Asthma UK Centre for Applied Asthma Research, Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Stephen A
authors: SA
authors: Bremner
authors: Asthma UK Centre for Applied Asthma Research, Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Cross
authors: Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Isobel
authors: I
authors: Dundas
authors: MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Grieve
authors: Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Grigg
authors: MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors: Jeenath B
authors: JB
authors: Jamaludin
authors: MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Frank J
authors: FJ
authors: Kelly
authors: MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Allergy Centre, HK Sanatorium and Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Tak
authors: T
authors: Lee
authors: Allergy & Respiratory Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors: Aziz
authors: A
authors: Sheikh
authors: Asthma UK Centre for Applied Asthma Research, Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Walton
authors: Asthma UK Centre for Applied Asthma Research, Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D001335:Vehicle Emissions