Particulate matter composition and respiratory health the PIAMA birth cohort study

Abstract

Background: ambient particulate matter (PM) exposure is associated with children's respiratory health. little is known about the importance of different PM constituents. We investigated the effects of PM constituents on asthma, allergy, and lung function until the age of 11-12 years. Methods: For 3,702 participants of a prospective birth cohort study, questionnaire-reported asthma and hay fever and measurements of allergic sensitization and lung function were linked with annual average concentrations of copper, iron, potassium, nickel, sulfur, silicon, vanadium, and zinc in particles with diameters of less than 2.5 and 10 μm (PM<inf>2.5</inf> and PM<inf>10</inf>) at birth addresses and current addresses from land-use regression models. exposure-health relations were analyzed by multiple (repeated measures) logistic and linear regressions. Results: asthma incidence and prevalence of asthma symptoms and rhinitis were positively associated with zinc in PM<inf>10</inf> at the birth address (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] per interquartile range increase in exposure 1.13 [1.02, 1.25], 1.08 [1.00, 1.17], and 1.16 [1.04, 1.30], respectively). Moreover, asthma symptoms were positively associated with copper in PM<inf>10</inf> at the current address (1.06 [1.00, 1.12]). allergic sensitization was positively associated with copper and iron in PM10 at the birth address (relative risk [95% con-fidence interval] 1.07 [1.01, 1.14] and 1.10 [1.03, 1.18]) and current address. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second was negatively associated with copper and iron in PM<inf>2.5</inf> (change [95% confidence interval]-2.1% [-1.1,-0.1%] and-1.0% [-2.0,-0.0%]) and FeF<inf>75-50</inf> with copper in PM<inf>10</inf> at the current address (-2.3% [-4.3,-0.3%]). Conclusion: PM constituents, in particular iron, copper, and zinc, reflecting poorly regulated non-tailpipe road traffic emissions, may increase the risk of asthma and allergy in schoolchildren.