Regional PM2.5 and Asthma Morbidity in an Agricultural Community: A Panel Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Arias G ; Bhatti P ; Breckwich Vasquez V ; Karr C ; Loftus C ; Sampson P ; Torres E ; Yost M
• Description:
  Background: Elevated pediatric asthma morbidity has been observed in rural US communities, but the role of the ambient environment in exacerbating rural asthma is poorly understood. Objectives: To investigate associations between particulate matter less than 2.5 um in diameter (PM2.5) and pediatric asthma exacerbations in an agricultural community of Washington State. Methods: School-aged children with asthma (n=58) were followed for up to 25 months with repeated measures of respiratory health. Asthma symptoms and quick-relief medication use were assessed biweekly through phone administered surveys (n=2023 interviews). In addition, subjects used home peak flow meters on a daily basis to measure forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (n=7830 measurements). Regional PM2.5 was measured at a single air monitor located centrally in the study region. To assess relationships between PM2.5 and these outcomes we used linear regression with generalized estimating equations, adjusting for meteorological and temporal confounders. Effect modification by atopy was explored as well. Results: An interquartile increase (IQR) in weekly PM2.5 of 6.7 ug/m3 was associated with an increase in reported asthma symptoms Specific symptoms including wheezing, limitation of activities, and nighttime waking displayed the strongest associations. FEV1 as a percent of predicted decreased by 0.9% (95%CI: -1.8, 0.0) for an IQR increase in PM2.5 one day prior, and by 1.4% (95%CI: -2.7, -0.2) when restricted to children with atopic asthma. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that PM2.5 in an agricultural setting contributes to elevated asthma morbidity. Further work on identifying and mitigating sources of PM2.5 in the area is warranted. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution Animals Asthma Asthma, Occupational Dust Environmental Pollution Livestock Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Agricultural Air Quality Agricultural Industry Agricultural Safety Air Contamination Air Quality Monitoring Asthma Exacerbations Author Keywords: PM2.5 Children Environmental Contamination Livestock Foods Livestock Industry Particulate Dust Pediatric Asthma Respiratory Diseases Respiratory System Disorders Rural Asthma

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• ISSN:
  0013-9351
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement ; Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  136
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053399
• Citation:
  Environ Res 2015 Jan; 136:505-512
• Contact Point Address:
  Christine Loftus, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Box 357236, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
• Email:
  cloftus@uw.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Research
• End Date:
  20270929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8f5e25774d4765f459d6bf7152bf288415a9c078d1acd34f4740fbfec374a596dd4bb14af691b76114a7098477edc3fc167047fc5fe3f3eba8725aa38319c047
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216160/cdc_216160_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 426.99 KB ]