Wheezing and lung function measured in subjects exposed to various levels of fine particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

• Authors: Wieslaw Jedrychowski , Frederica Perera , Robin Whyatt , Elzbieta Mroz , Elzbieta Flak , Ryszard Jacek , Agnieszka Penar , John Spengler , David Camman
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The main purpose of the study was to assess the occurrence of wheezing and lung function in non-smoking women exposed to various levels of fine particulate matter(FP) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Out of the total study group, 152 women were included in the lower exposed group (PM2.5 ≤34.3μg/m3 or PAHs ≤ 22.9ng/ m3) and 96 persons in higher concentrations of both air pollutants (PM2.5>34.3μg/m3 and PAHs > 22.9ng/ m3). Except for FVC and FEV1, all lung forced ventilatory flows (PEFR, FEF25% FEF50%, FEF75%, FEF25−75%) were significantly lower in the higher exposed group. The findings suggest bronchoconstriction within the respiratory tract, which may be related to the exposure under study. This was consistent with a higher prevalence of wheezing in more exposed subjects. It was shown that higher levels of both pollutants increased the risk of wheezing by factor 5.6 (95% CI: 1.77–17.8) after accounting for potential confounders such as allergic diseases and exposure to ETS. This study suggests that pollutants in question may have the capacity to promote broncho-constriction and asthmatic symptoms, possibly by bronchial inflammation resulting from the exposure.

Keywords

EN

Personal exposure; fine particles; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; lung function; wheezing

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Open Medicine
• Year: 2007
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 66-78

Dates

published

1 - 3 - 2007

online

1 - 3 - 2007

Contributors

author

Wieslaw Jedrychowski

• Chair of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Coll. Med. Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland

author

Frederica Perera

• Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health Mailman School Public Health, Columbia University, NY, USA

author

Robin Whyatt

• Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health Mailman School Public Health, Columbia University, NY, USA

author

Elzbieta Mroz

• Chair of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Coll. Med. Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland

author

Elzbieta Flak

• Chair of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Coll. Med. Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland

author

Ryszard Jacek

• Chair of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Coll. Med. Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland

author

Agnieszka Penar

• Chair of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Coll. Med. Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland

author

John Spengler

• Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA

author

David Camman

• Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s11536-006-0043-6