A Study of Twelve Southern California Communities with Differing Levels and Types of Air Pollution

Abstract

To study possible chronic respiratory effects of air pollutants, we initiated a 10-yr prospective cohort study of Southern California children, with a study design focused on four pollutants: ozone, particulate matter, acids, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Twelve demographically similar communities were selected on the basis of historic monitoring information to represent extremes of exposure to one or more pollutants. In each community, about 150 public school students in grade 4, 75 in grade 7, and 75 in grade 10 were enrolled through their classrooms. Informed consent and written responses to surveys about students' lifetime residential histories, historic and current health status, residential characteristics, and physical activity were obtained with the help of the parents. In the first testing season, 3,676 students returned questionnaires. We confirmed associations previously reported between respiratory morbidity prevalence and the presence of personal, demographic, and residential risk factors. Rates of respiratory illness were higher for males, those living in houses with pets, pests, mildew, and water damage, those whose parents had asthma, and those living in houses with smokers. Wheeze prevalence was positively associated with levels of both acid (odds ratio [OR] = 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.83) and NO2 (OR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.08-2.19) in boys. We conclude, based on this cross-sectional assessment of questionnaire responses, that current levels of ambient air pollution in Southern California may be associated with effects on schoolchildren's respiratory morbidity as assessed by questionnaire.

Ozone, Oxidant Defense Genes, and Risk of Asthma during Adolescence

“…Furthermore, we also hypothesized that these polymorphisms affect antioxidant responses to environmental ozone, a common environmental oxidant (Figure 1). To test these hypotheses, we examined health, genetic, and exposure data collected from 1,711 children of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white ethnicity who participated in the Children's Health Study (CHS), a longitudinal study of respiratory health among children in 12 Southern California communities (19,20). Some of the results have been reported in abstract form (21).…”

“…Details concerning the design, methods, and characteristics of the CHS cohort have been presented in previous publications (19,20). Briefly, fourth-, seventh-, and tenth-grade children were enrolled into the study from 12 communities of Southern California (selected primarily based on differential ambient pollution levels).…”

Seasonal and Spatial Variation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Vapor-Phase and PM2.5in Southern California Urban and Rural Communities

“…Sampling was performed at six public school locations in a subset of communities participating in a multiyear chronic respiratory health study of Southern California schoolchildren (Peters et al 1999) (see Figure 1). Communities were selected for health study participation on the basis of historical air quality data, comparable population demographics, a sufficient number of potential subjects attending public school, and the willingness of the local school district to participate.…”

“…While epidemiological evidence associating airborne particulate matter (PM) with adverse health effects in humans is extensive (Dockery et al 1993;Schwartz et al 1996;Schwartz and Neas 2000;Peters et al 1999;Avol et al 2001;Gauderman et al 2000Gauderman et al , 2002, fundamental uncertainties persist regarding specific identification of the precise physical and chemical properties of PM responsible for observed health associations. Based on presence and toxicity, a candidate component class of PM of potential importance is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).…”

Spatial Measurements of Ultrafine Particles Using an Engine Exhaust Particle SizerTMwithin a Local Community Downwind of a Major International Trade Bridge in Buffalo, New York

“…Although epidemiological evidence links increases in particulate matter (PM) to in-1097 creases in mortality and morbidity (Vedal 1997;Dockery 1993), further investigation is still needed to assess whether it is the mass (Osunsanya et al 2001), number concentration (Peters et al 1999;Yue et al 2007), and/or other particle characteristics (e.g., surface area and composition) that are associated with the adverse health effects of exposure to PM.…”