title: Lung function reductions associated with motor vehicle density in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: Motor vehicle-related air pollution can potentially impair lung function. The effect of pollution in people with compromised pulmonary function such as in COPD has not been previously investigated. To examine the association of lung function with motor vehicle density in people with spirometrically determined COPD in a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  
  In 2004-06, The North West Adelaide Health Study (NWAHS), a biomedical cohort of adults assessed pre and post-bronchodilator spirometry (n = 3,103). Traffic density, obtained from the motor vehicle inventory maintained by the South Australian Environment Protection Authority, was expressed as the daily numbers of vehicles travelling within a 200 m diameter zone around participants' geocoded residences.
  
  
  
  In subjects with COPD (FEV1/FVC <0.7, n = 221, 7.1 %), increasing daily vehicle density was associated with statistically significant decreases in lung function parameters after adjustment for smoking and socio-economic variables. Mean (95 % CI) post-bronchodilator % predicted FEV1was 81 % (76-87) in the low (≤7179/day) compared with 71 % (67-75) in the high (≥15,270/day) vehicle exposure group (p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis in all subjects with COPD showed significant decrements in post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio and % predicted FEV1of 0.03 and 0.05 % respectively per daily increase in 1000 vehicles. In men with COPD (n = 150), the corresponding reductions were 0.03 and 0.06 %. Smaller, non-significant decrements were seen in females. No difference was seen in those without COPD.
  
  
  
  Vehicle traffic density was associated with significant reductions in lung function in people with COPD. Urban planning should consider the health impacts for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
authors: Department for Health and Ageing, 11 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. monika.nitschke@health.sa.gov.au.
authors: Monika
authors: 0000-0002-8524-7867
authors: M
authors: Nitschke
authors: The Health Observatory, Discipline of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: Sarah L
authors: SL
authors: Appleton
authors: The School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: Qiaoyu
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Department for Health and Ageing, 11 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: Graeme R
authors: GR
authors: Tucker
authors: Environment Protection Authority, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: Pushan
authors: P
authors: Shah
authors: The School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Bi
authors: The School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: Dino L
authors: DL
authors: Pisaniello
authors: The Health Observatory, Discipline of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Adams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016014:Linear Models; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013147:Spirometry; D014504:Urban Health; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*; D014797:Vital Capacity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Air pollution; COPD; Cross-sectional study; Lung function; Vehicle density