The Australian Child Health and Air Pollution Study (ACHAPS): a national population-based cross-sectional study of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, asthma, and lung function

Luke D. Knibbs; Adriana M. Cortes de Waterman; Brett G. Toelle; Yuming Guo; Lyn Denison; Bin Jalaludin; Guy B. Marks; Gail M. Williams

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.025

The Australian Child Health and Air Pollution Study (ACHAPS): a national population-based cross-sectional study of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, asthma, and lung function

Luke D. Knibbs^*, Adriana M. Cortes de Waterman, Brett G. Toelle, Yuming Guo, Lyn Denison, Bin Jalaludin, Guy B. Marks, Gail M. Williams

^*Corresponding author for this work

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

76 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Most studies of long-term air pollution exposure and children's respiratory health have been performed in urban locations with moderate pollution levels. We assessed the effect of outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), as a proxy for urban air pollution, on current asthma and lung function in Australia, a low-pollution setting.

We undertook a national population-based cross-sectional study of children aged 7-11 years living in 12 Australian cities. We collected information on asthma symptoms from parents via questionnaire and measured children's lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV₁], forced vital capacity [FVC]) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide [Fe_NO]). We estimated recent NO₂ exposure (last 12 months) using monitors near each child's school, and used a satellite-based land-use regression (LUR) model to estimate NO₂ at each child's school and home.

Our analysis comprised 2630 children, among whom the prevalence of current asthma was 14.9%. Mean (±SD) NO₂ exposure was 8.8 ppb (±3.2) and 8.8 ppb (±2.3) for monitor-and LUR-based estimates, respectively. Mean percent predicted post-bronchodilator FEV1 and FVC were 101.7% (±10.5) and 98.8% (±10.5), respectively. The geometric mean Fe_NO concentration was 9.4 ppb (±7.1).

An IQR increase in NO₂ (4.0 ppb) was significantly associated with increased odds of having current asthma; odds ratios (ORs) were 1.24 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.43) and 1.54 (95% CI: 1.26, 1.87) for monitor-and LUR-based estimates, respectively. Increased NO₂ exposure was significantly associated with decreased percent predicted FEV1 (-1.35 percentage points [95% CI: -2.21, -0.49]) and FVC (-1.19 percentage points [95% CI: -2.04, -0.35], and an increase in Fe-NO of 71% (95% CI: 38%, 112%).

Exposure to outdoor NO₂ was associated with adverse respiratory health effects in this population-based sample of Australian children. The relatively low NO₂ levels at which these effects were observed highlight the potential benefits of continuous exposure reduction.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	394-403
Number of pages	10
Journal	Environment International
Volume	120
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.025
Publication status	Published - Nov 2018
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Asthma
Air pollution
Australia
Children
Nitrogen dioxide
Exposure

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10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.025

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Knibbs, L. D., de Waterman, A. M. C., Toelle, B. G., Guo, Y., Denison, L., Jalaludin, B., Marks, G. B., & Williams, G. M. (2018). The Australian Child Health and Air Pollution Study (ACHAPS): a national population-based cross-sectional study of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, asthma, and lung function. Environment International, 120, 394-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.025

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title = "The Australian Child Health and Air Pollution Study (ACHAPS): a national population-based cross-sectional study of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, asthma, and lung function",

abstract = "Most studies of long-term air pollution exposure and children's respiratory health have been performed in urban locations with moderate pollution levels. We assessed the effect of outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2), as a proxy for urban air pollution, on current asthma and lung function in Australia, a low-pollution setting.We undertook a national population-based cross-sectional study of children aged 7-11 years living in 12 Australian cities. We collected information on asthma symptoms from parents via questionnaire and measured children's lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC]) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO]). We estimated recent NO2 exposure (last 12 months) using monitors near each child's school, and used a satellite-based land-use regression (LUR) model to estimate NO2 at each child's school and home.Our analysis comprised 2630 children, among whom the prevalence of current asthma was 14.9%. Mean (±SD) NO2 exposure was 8.8 ppb (±3.2) and 8.8 ppb (±2.3) for monitor-and LUR-based estimates, respectively. Mean percent predicted post-bronchodilator FEV1 and FVC were 101.7% (±10.5) and 98.8% (±10.5), respectively. The geometric mean FeNO concentration was 9.4 ppb (±7.1).An IQR increase in NO2 (4.0 ppb) was significantly associated with increased odds of having current asthma; odds ratios (ORs) were 1.24 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.43) and 1.54 (95% CI: 1.26, 1.87) for monitor-and LUR-based estimates, respectively. Increased NO2 exposure was significantly associated with decreased percent predicted FEV1 (-1.35 percentage points [95% CI: -2.21, -0.49]) and FVC (-1.19 percentage points [95% CI: -2.04, -0.35], and an increase in Fe-NO of 71% (95% CI: 38%, 112%).Exposure to outdoor NO2 was associated with adverse respiratory health effects in this population-based sample of Australian children. The relatively low NO2 levels at which these effects were observed highlight the potential benefits of continuous exposure reduction.",

keywords = "Asthma, Air pollution, Australia, Children, Nitrogen dioxide, Exposure",

author = "Knibbs, {Luke D.} and {de Waterman}, {Adriana M. Cortes} and Toelle, {Brett G.} and Yuming Guo and Lyn Denison and Bin Jalaludin and Marks, {Guy B.} and Williams, {Gail M.}",

year = "2018",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.025",

language = "English",

volume = "120",

pages = "394--403",

journal = "Environment International",

issn = "0160-4120",

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Knibbs, LD, de Waterman, AMC, Toelle, BG, Guo, Y, Denison, L, Jalaludin, B, Marks, GB & Williams, GM 2018, 'The Australian Child Health and Air Pollution Study (ACHAPS): a national population-based cross-sectional study of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, asthma, and lung function', Environment International, vol. 120, pp. 394-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.025

The Australian Child Health and Air Pollution Study (ACHAPS): a national population-based cross-sectional study of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, asthma, and lung function. / Knibbs, Luke D.; de Waterman, Adriana M. Cortes; Toelle, Brett G. et al.
In: Environment International, Vol. 120, 11.2018, p. 394-403.

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

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Australian Child Health and Air Pollution Study (ACHAPS)

T2 - a national population-based cross-sectional study of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, asthma, and lung function

AU - Knibbs, Luke D.

AU - de Waterman, Adriana M. Cortes

AU - Toelle, Brett G.

AU - Guo, Yuming

AU - Denison, Lyn

AU - Jalaludin, Bin

AU - Marks, Guy B.

AU - Williams, Gail M.

PY - 2018/11

Y1 - 2018/11

N2 - Most studies of long-term air pollution exposure and children's respiratory health have been performed in urban locations with moderate pollution levels. We assessed the effect of outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2), as a proxy for urban air pollution, on current asthma and lung function in Australia, a low-pollution setting.We undertook a national population-based cross-sectional study of children aged 7-11 years living in 12 Australian cities. We collected information on asthma symptoms from parents via questionnaire and measured children's lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC]) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO]). We estimated recent NO2 exposure (last 12 months) using monitors near each child's school, and used a satellite-based land-use regression (LUR) model to estimate NO2 at each child's school and home.Our analysis comprised 2630 children, among whom the prevalence of current asthma was 14.9%. Mean (±SD) NO2 exposure was 8.8 ppb (±3.2) and 8.8 ppb (±2.3) for monitor-and LUR-based estimates, respectively. Mean percent predicted post-bronchodilator FEV1 and FVC were 101.7% (±10.5) and 98.8% (±10.5), respectively. The geometric mean FeNO concentration was 9.4 ppb (±7.1).An IQR increase in NO2 (4.0 ppb) was significantly associated with increased odds of having current asthma; odds ratios (ORs) were 1.24 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.43) and 1.54 (95% CI: 1.26, 1.87) for monitor-and LUR-based estimates, respectively. Increased NO2 exposure was significantly associated with decreased percent predicted FEV1 (-1.35 percentage points [95% CI: -2.21, -0.49]) and FVC (-1.19 percentage points [95% CI: -2.04, -0.35], and an increase in Fe-NO of 71% (95% CI: 38%, 112%).Exposure to outdoor NO2 was associated with adverse respiratory health effects in this population-based sample of Australian children. The relatively low NO2 levels at which these effects were observed highlight the potential benefits of continuous exposure reduction.

AB - Most studies of long-term air pollution exposure and children's respiratory health have been performed in urban locations with moderate pollution levels. We assessed the effect of outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2), as a proxy for urban air pollution, on current asthma and lung function in Australia, a low-pollution setting.We undertook a national population-based cross-sectional study of children aged 7-11 years living in 12 Australian cities. We collected information on asthma symptoms from parents via questionnaire and measured children's lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC]) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO]). We estimated recent NO2 exposure (last 12 months) using monitors near each child's school, and used a satellite-based land-use regression (LUR) model to estimate NO2 at each child's school and home.Our analysis comprised 2630 children, among whom the prevalence of current asthma was 14.9%. Mean (±SD) NO2 exposure was 8.8 ppb (±3.2) and 8.8 ppb (±2.3) for monitor-and LUR-based estimates, respectively. Mean percent predicted post-bronchodilator FEV1 and FVC were 101.7% (±10.5) and 98.8% (±10.5), respectively. The geometric mean FeNO concentration was 9.4 ppb (±7.1).An IQR increase in NO2 (4.0 ppb) was significantly associated with increased odds of having current asthma; odds ratios (ORs) were 1.24 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.43) and 1.54 (95% CI: 1.26, 1.87) for monitor-and LUR-based estimates, respectively. Increased NO2 exposure was significantly associated with decreased percent predicted FEV1 (-1.35 percentage points [95% CI: -2.21, -0.49]) and FVC (-1.19 percentage points [95% CI: -2.04, -0.35], and an increase in Fe-NO of 71% (95% CI: 38%, 112%).Exposure to outdoor NO2 was associated with adverse respiratory health effects in this population-based sample of Australian children. The relatively low NO2 levels at which these effects were observed highlight the potential benefits of continuous exposure reduction.

KW - Asthma

KW - Air pollution

KW - Australia

KW - Children

KW - Nitrogen dioxide

KW - Exposure

U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.025

DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.025

M3 - Article

C2 - 30125857

SN - 0160-4120

VL - 120

SP - 394

EP - 403

JO - Environment International

JF - Environment International

ER -

The Australian Child Health and Air Pollution Study (ACHAPS): a national population-based cross-sectional study of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, asthma, and lung function

Abstract

Keywords

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