Fine particles and meteorological conditions are associated with lung function in children with asthma living near two power plants

• Published in: Public health (London) Vol. 119; no. 5; pp. 418 - 425
• Main Authors: Peled, R., Friger, M., Bolotin, A., Bibi, H., Epstein, L., Pilpel, D., Scharf, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2005
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - adverse effects; Asthma; Asthma - physiopathology; Child; Children; Cohort Studies; Fine particles; GEE and GLM models; Humans; Israel; Meteorological conditions; Particle Size; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; Power Plants; Respiratory Function Tests; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Weather; Israel; Children; Fine particles; GEE and GLM models; Asthma; Meteorological conditions; Power plants
• ISSN: 0033-3506; 1476-5616
• DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2004.05.023

Fine particles are thought to pose a risk to health, especially for vulnerable groups such as children with asthma. These children are also known to be affected by meteorological and seasonal changes. We assessed the association between air pollution and lung function via peak expiratory flow (PEF), controlling for seasonal changes, meteorological conditions and personal physiological, clinical and sociodemographic measurements, in a panel of schoolchildren with asthma living near two power plants in Israel. Two hundred and eighty-five children with confirmed asthma performed PEF tests and completed a respiratory symptoms diary twice a day. Particulate matter <10 μm in diameter (PM 10), particulate matter <2.5 μm in diameter (PM 2.5) and meteorological conditions were measured at six fixed stations. Data were analysed using time series analysis—generalized linear model and generalized estimating equations. The models were built under the assumption that any health outcome belongs to a multivariate hierarchical system and depends on meteorological, geophysical and sociocultural variables and pollution factors. No significant differences were found in the demographic (age, gender, mean parental education level, parental smoking habits, place of birth and housing density), physiological (body mass index) and clinical factors (illness severity) between the communities participating in the study. A significant direct effect of PM 2.5 on the PEF was found in Ashdod ( P=0.000). In Sderot, this effect was through an interaction between PM 10 and the sequential day of the year ( P=0.000). The main conclusion of this study is that children with asthma are at risk from air pollution and geophysical conditions. Policy makers should take these results into consideration when setting thresholds for environmental protection.