Air Pollution Exposure and Lung Function in Children: The ESCAPE Project

Ulrike Gehring; Olena Gruzieva; Raymond M. Agius; Rob Beelen; Adnan Custovic; Josef Cyrys; Marloes Eeftens; Claudia Flexeder; Elaine Fuertes; Joachim Heinrich; Barbara Hoffmann; Johan C. de Jongste; Marjan Kerkhof; Claudia Kluemper; Michal Korek; Anna Moelter; Erica S. Schultz; Angela Simpson; Dorothea Sugiri; Magnus Svartengren; Andrea von Berg; Alet H. Wijga; Goeran Pershagen; Bert Brunekreef

doi:10.1289/ehp.1306770

Air Pollution Exposure and Lung Function in Children: The ESCAPE Project

Ulrike Gehring^*, Olena Gruzieva, Raymond M. Agius, Rob Beelen, Adnan Custovic, Josef Cyrys, Marloes Eeftens, Claudia Flexeder, Elaine Fuertes, Joachim Heinrich, Barbara Hoffmann, Johan C. de Jongste, Marjan Kerkhof, Claudia Kluemper, Michal Korek, Anna Moelter, Erica S. Schultz, Angela Simpson, Dorothea Sugiri, Magnus SvartengrenAndrea von Berg, Alet H. Wijga, Goeran Pershagen, Bert Brunekreef

^*Corresponding author for this work

Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

312 Citations (Scopus)

261 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is evidence for adverse effects of outdoor air pollution on lung function of children. Quantitative summaries of the effects of air pollution on lung function, however, are lacking due to large differences among studies.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the association between residential exposure to air pollution and lung function in five European birth cohorts with a standardized exposure assessment following a common protocol. METHODS: As part of the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) we analyzed data from birth cohort studies situated in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom that measured lung function at 6-8 years of age (n = 5,921). Annual average exposure to air pollution [nitrogen oxides (NO2, NOx), mass concentrations of particulate matter with diameters <2.5, <10, and 2.5-10 mu m (PM2.5, PM10, and PMcoarse), and PM2.5 absorbance] at the birth address and current address was estimated by land-use regression models. Associations of lung function with estimated air pollution levels and traffic indicators were estimated for each cohort using linear regression analysis, and then combined by random effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS: Estimated levels of NO2, NOx, PM2.5 absorbance, and PM2.5 at the current address, but not at the birth address, were associated with small decreases in lung function. For example, changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) ranged from -0.86% (95% CI: -1.48, -0.24%) for a 20-mu g/m(3) increase in NOx to -1.77% (95% CI: -3.34, -0.18%) for a 5-mu g/m(3) increase in PM2.5.

CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to air pollution may result in reduced lung function in schoolchildren.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1357-1364
Number of pages	8
Journal	Environmental Health Perspectives
Volume	121
Issue number	11-12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306770
Publication status	Published - 2013

Keywords

USE REGRESSION-MODELS
BIRTH COHORT
PULMONARY-FUNCTION
PM2.5 ABSORBENCY
MEXICO-CITY
AREAS
NO2
SCHOOLCHILDREN
METAANALYSIS
STABILITY

Access to Document

10.1289/ehp.1306770Licence: Unspecified

Air Pollution Exposure and Lung FunctionFinal publisher's version, 312 KBLicence: Unspecified

Handle.net

Persistent link

Cite this

Gehring, U., Gruzieva, O., Agius, R. M., Beelen, R., Custovic, A., Cyrys, J., Eeftens, M., Flexeder, C., Fuertes, E., Heinrich, J., Hoffmann, B., de Jongste, J. C., Kerkhof, M., Kluemper, C., Korek, M., Moelter, A., Schultz, E. S., Simpson, A., Sugiri, D., ... Brunekreef, B. (2013). Air Pollution Exposure and Lung Function in Children: The ESCAPE Project. Environmental Health Perspectives, 121(11-12), 1357-1364. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306770

@article{a269a27a752e4e8c8fe6ee39527328c0,

title = "Air Pollution Exposure and Lung Function in Children: The ESCAPE Project",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: There is evidence for adverse effects of outdoor air pollution on lung function of children. Quantitative summaries of the effects of air pollution on lung function, however, are lacking due to large differences among studies.OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the association between residential exposure to air pollution and lung function in five European birth cohorts with a standardized exposure assessment following a common protocol. METHODS: As part of the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) we analyzed data from birth cohort studies situated in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom that measured lung function at 6-8 years of age (n = 5,921). Annual average exposure to air pollution [nitrogen oxides (NO2, NOx), mass concentrations of particulate matter with diameters <2.5, <10, and 2.5-10 mu m (PM2.5, PM10, and PMcoarse), and PM2.5 absorbance] at the birth address and current address was estimated by land-use regression models. Associations of lung function with estimated air pollution levels and traffic indicators were estimated for each cohort using linear regression analysis, and then combined by random effects meta-analysis.RESULTS: Estimated levels of NO2, NOx, PM2.5 absorbance, and PM2.5 at the current address, but not at the birth address, were associated with small decreases in lung function. For example, changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) ranged from -0.86% (95% CI: -1.48, -0.24%) for a 20-mu g/m(3) increase in NOx to -1.77% (95% CI: -3.34, -0.18%) for a 5-mu g/m(3) increase in PM2.5.CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to air pollution may result in reduced lung function in schoolchildren.",

keywords = "USE REGRESSION-MODELS, BIRTH COHORT, PULMONARY-FUNCTION, PM2.5 ABSORBENCY, MEXICO-CITY, AREAS, NO2, SCHOOLCHILDREN, METAANALYSIS, STABILITY",

author = "Ulrike Gehring and Olena Gruzieva and Agius, {Raymond M.} and Rob Beelen and Adnan Custovic and Josef Cyrys and Marloes Eeftens and Claudia Flexeder and Elaine Fuertes and Joachim Heinrich and Barbara Hoffmann and {de Jongste}, {Johan C.} and Marjan Kerkhof and Claudia Kluemper and Michal Korek and Anna Moelter and Schultz, {Erica S.} and Angela Simpson and Dorothea Sugiri and Magnus Svartengren and {von Berg}, Andrea and Wijga, {Alet H.} and Goeran Pershagen and Bert Brunekreef",

year = "2013",

doi = "10.1289/ehp.1306770",

language = "English",

volume = "121",

pages = "1357--1364",

journal = "Environmental Health Perspectives",

issn = "0091-6765",

publisher = "US DEPT HEALTH HUMAN SCIENCES PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCE",

number = "11-12",

}

Gehring, U, Gruzieva, O, Agius, RM, Beelen, R, Custovic, A, Cyrys, J, Eeftens, M, Flexeder, C, Fuertes, E, Heinrich, J, Hoffmann, B, de Jongste, JC, Kerkhof, M, Kluemper, C, Korek, M, Moelter, A, Schultz, ES, Simpson, A, Sugiri, D, Svartengren, M, von Berg, A, Wijga, AH, Pershagen, G & Brunekreef, B 2013, 'Air Pollution Exposure and Lung Function in Children: The ESCAPE Project', Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 121, no. 11-12, pp. 1357-1364. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306770

TY - JOUR

T1 - Air Pollution Exposure and Lung Function in Children

T2 - The ESCAPE Project

AU - Gehring, Ulrike

AU - Gruzieva, Olena

AU - Agius, Raymond M.

AU - Beelen, Rob

AU - Custovic, Adnan

AU - Cyrys, Josef

AU - Eeftens, Marloes

AU - Flexeder, Claudia

AU - Fuertes, Elaine

AU - Heinrich, Joachim

AU - Hoffmann, Barbara

AU - de Jongste, Johan C.

AU - Kerkhof, Marjan

AU - Kluemper, Claudia

AU - Korek, Michal

AU - Moelter, Anna

AU - Schultz, Erica S.

AU - Simpson, Angela

AU - Sugiri, Dorothea

AU - Svartengren, Magnus

AU - von Berg, Andrea

AU - Wijga, Alet H.

AU - Pershagen, Goeran

AU - Brunekreef, Bert

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - BACKGROUND: There is evidence for adverse effects of outdoor air pollution on lung function of children. Quantitative summaries of the effects of air pollution on lung function, however, are lacking due to large differences among studies.OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the association between residential exposure to air pollution and lung function in five European birth cohorts with a standardized exposure assessment following a common protocol. METHODS: As part of the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) we analyzed data from birth cohort studies situated in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom that measured lung function at 6-8 years of age (n = 5,921). Annual average exposure to air pollution [nitrogen oxides (NO2, NOx), mass concentrations of particulate matter with diameters <2.5, <10, and 2.5-10 mu m (PM2.5, PM10, and PMcoarse), and PM2.5 absorbance] at the birth address and current address was estimated by land-use regression models. Associations of lung function with estimated air pollution levels and traffic indicators were estimated for each cohort using linear regression analysis, and then combined by random effects meta-analysis.RESULTS: Estimated levels of NO2, NOx, PM2.5 absorbance, and PM2.5 at the current address, but not at the birth address, were associated with small decreases in lung function. For example, changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) ranged from -0.86% (95% CI: -1.48, -0.24%) for a 20-mu g/m(3) increase in NOx to -1.77% (95% CI: -3.34, -0.18%) for a 5-mu g/m(3) increase in PM2.5.CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to air pollution may result in reduced lung function in schoolchildren.

AB - BACKGROUND: There is evidence for adverse effects of outdoor air pollution on lung function of children. Quantitative summaries of the effects of air pollution on lung function, however, are lacking due to large differences among studies.OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the association between residential exposure to air pollution and lung function in five European birth cohorts with a standardized exposure assessment following a common protocol. METHODS: As part of the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) we analyzed data from birth cohort studies situated in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom that measured lung function at 6-8 years of age (n = 5,921). Annual average exposure to air pollution [nitrogen oxides (NO2, NOx), mass concentrations of particulate matter with diameters <2.5, <10, and 2.5-10 mu m (PM2.5, PM10, and PMcoarse), and PM2.5 absorbance] at the birth address and current address was estimated by land-use regression models. Associations of lung function with estimated air pollution levels and traffic indicators were estimated for each cohort using linear regression analysis, and then combined by random effects meta-analysis.RESULTS: Estimated levels of NO2, NOx, PM2.5 absorbance, and PM2.5 at the current address, but not at the birth address, were associated with small decreases in lung function. For example, changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) ranged from -0.86% (95% CI: -1.48, -0.24%) for a 20-mu g/m(3) increase in NOx to -1.77% (95% CI: -3.34, -0.18%) for a 5-mu g/m(3) increase in PM2.5.CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to air pollution may result in reduced lung function in schoolchildren.

KW - USE REGRESSION-MODELS

KW - BIRTH COHORT

KW - PULMONARY-FUNCTION

KW - PM2.5 ABSORBENCY

KW - MEXICO-CITY

KW - AREAS

KW - NO2

KW - SCHOOLCHILDREN

KW - METAANALYSIS

KW - STABILITY

U2 - 10.1289/ehp.1306770

DO - 10.1289/ehp.1306770

M3 - Article

SN - 0091-6765

VL - 121

SP - 1357

EP - 1364

JO - Environmental Health Perspectives

JF - Environmental Health Perspectives

IS - 11-12

ER -