Association of Breastfeeding and Air Pollution Exposure With Lung Function in Chinese Children

Zhang, Chuan; Lee, Hyewon; Xiao, Xiang; Bloom, Michael S.; Qian, Zhengmin; Rolling, Craig A.; Xian, Hong; Lin, Shao; Li, Shanshan; Chen, Gongbo; Jalava, Pasi; Roponen, Marjut; Hirvonen, Maija; Komppula, Mika; Leskinen, Ari; Yim, Steve Hung Lam; Chen, Duo Hong; Ma, Huimin; Zeng, Xiao Wen; Hu, Li; Liu, Kang Kang; Yang, Bo

doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.4186

Cited by 37 publications

(38 citation statements)

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“…Exclusivity of breastfeeding was also studied and showed protective effects on neurodevelopment [73,74]. Mainly breastfeeding for 3 months was shown to decrease the adverse impact of air pollution on respiratory health [11], lung function [13], and blood pressure [84]. However, the duration of predominately breastfeeding showed no effect on neurodevelopmental outcomes with prenatal exposure to PM 2.5 and NO 2 [12].…”

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also, it remains unclear how long the protective effects of breastfeeding persist. Several of the analyzed studies showed that the protective action of breastfeeding may diminish with age, but further studies are necessary [11,13,79]. Moreover, the exact mechanisms of modifying breastfeeding actions remain unclear; nonetheless, several possible explanations have been proposed.…”

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, it has been hypothesized that breastfeeding causes an improvement in immune function that may provide both short-term and long-term protection against infection and allergies [11,58,63,85]. Second, breastfeeding may reduce systemic inflammation [13,84]. Third, breastfeeding may reduce respiratory infection severity and morbidity, as well as postpone the age at which infections first occur, limiting lung damage.…”

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Breastfeeding has well documented as having wide-ranging health benefits both for the mother and children [9], and may be able to diminish the adverse health effects of exposure to environmental pollution [10]. Thus far, several studies have investigated the effects of breastfeeding on the adverse health effects induced by air pollutants; however, the results were inconclusive [11,12,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Protective Effect of Breastfeeding on the Adverse Health Effects Induced by Air Pollution: Current Evidence and Possible Mechanisms

Zielińska

Hamułka

2019

IJERPH

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Air pollution is a major social, economic, and health problem around the world. Children are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of air pollution due to their immaturity and excessive growth and development. The aims of this narrative review were to: (1) summarize evidence about the protective effects of breastfeeding on the adverse health effects of air pollution exposure, (2) define and describe the potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of breastfeeding, and (3) examine the potential effects of air pollution on breastmilk composition and lactation. A literature search was conducted using electronic databases. Existing evidence suggests that breastfeeding has a protective effect on adverse outcomes of indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure in respiratory (infections, lung function, asthma symptoms) and immune (allergic, nervous and cardiovascular) systems, as well as under-five mortality in both developing and developed countries. However, some studies reported no protective effect of breastfeeding or even negative effects of breastfeeding for under-five mortality. Several possible mechanisms of the breastfeeding protective effect were proposed, including the beneficial influence of breastfeeding on immune, respiratory, and nervous systems, which are related to the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective properties of breastmilk. Breastmilk components responsible for its protective effect against air pollutants exposure may be long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA), antioxidant vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, immunoglobins, and cytokines, some of which have concentrations that are diet-dependent. However, maternal exposure to air pollution is related to increased breastmilk concentrations of pollutants (e.g., Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or heavy metals in particulate matter (PM)). Nonetheless, environmental studies have confirmed that breastmilk’s protective effects outweigh its potential health risk to the infant. Mothers should be encouraged and supported to breastfeed their infants due to its unique health benefits, as well as its limited ecological footprint, which is associated with decreased waste production and the emission of pollutants.

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Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Protective Effect of Breastfeeding on the Adverse Health Effects Induced by Air Pollution: Current Evidence and Possible Mechanisms

Zielińska

Hamułka

2019

IJERPH

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“…We are interested in reports of original research on the associations of heat with the health of humans 3 and their potential adaptations to global warming. 4 Air pollution is a critically important topic because it is associated with increases in the risk of cardiovascular disease, 5,6 impaired lung function, 7 allergies and asthma, altered thyroid function, 8 food insecurity and malnutrition, and forced migration. The increasing incidence of wildfires further lessens air quality and has immediate and long-term effects on humans and other organisms.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change and Health

Rivara

Fihn

2019

JAMA Netw Open

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The scientific community widely agrees that climate change is occurring due to the increase in greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities. 1 These changes are likely to have profound implications in a range of human experiences worldwide. 2 As a global open access health journal, JAMA Network Open is issuing a call for papers on the health outcomes and risks associated with climate change.Our interest in this topic is broad and includes the direct health outcomes associated with climate change as well as the indirect outcomes mediated by climate change that affect other organisms, the food supply, and the degradation of the natural environment. Since the initiation of JAMA Network Open, the journal has published a variety of studies on health and the environment.We are interested in reports of original research on the associations of heat with the health of humans 3 and their potential adaptations to global warming. 4 Air pollution is a critically important topic because it is associated with increases in the risk of cardiovascular disease, 5,6 impaired lung function, 7 allergies and asthma, altered thyroid function, 8 food insecurity and malnutrition, and forced migration. The increasing incidence of wildfires further lessens air quality and has immediate and long-term effects on humans and other organisms. We are also interested in studies on changes in the incidence of infectious diseases, including vector-borne and food-borne illnesses, 9,10 occurring as a result of changes in a region's temperature, biome, and capacity to combat these illnesses.Climate change may also be associated with risks to mental health, including increased stress, anxiety, and depression. As extreme weather occurs with greater frequency, threats to health are associated with the traumas of natural disasters, which bring loss of life and the destruction of community infrastructure. 11,12 These studies are thus critically important to fully understand the magnitude and breadth of the health consequences of environmental changes. Climate change may also impact a community's ability to support and develop health-promoting resources, such as green space, which has been shown to be associated with improvements in mental health. 13,14 JAMA Network Open is particularly interested in examining how climate change affects people most susceptible to environmental degradation: people at the extremes of age, those with chronic illness, those performing physical work in the heat, and those living with homelessness, poverty, food insecurity, and discrimination. Public health and medical care systems will have to adapt to these changes, and studies of innovative strategies to ameliorate these changes and protect individuals and populations are needed.We are interested in articles that examine these topics with various study designs. These include experimental studies and observational studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and studies using computer modeling and simulation. Note that JAMA Network Open does not...

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Current pet ownership modifies the adverse association between long‐term ambient air pollution exposure and childhood asthma

Zeng

Lodge

Lowe

et al. 2021

Clinical & Translational All

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Background Recent studies suggest that household endotoxin and allergens can modify the impact of air pollutants on development of asthma; however, epidemiological evidence is limited and conflicting. Objectives To investigate whether pet ownership modified the association between ambient air pollution and asthma in children. Methods We conducted a population‐based cross‐sectional study, the Seven Northeast Cities Study in China and recruited a total of 59,754 children from 94 schools during 2012–2013. Long‐term air pollutant concentrations, including airborne particulate matter with a diameter of 1 μm or less (PM1), PM2.5, PM10, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from 2009 to 2012 were estimated using a random forest model. We collected information of respiratory health in children using the Epidemiologic Standardization Project Questionnaire of the American Thoracic Society (ATS‐DLD‐78‐A). Regression models were used to evaluate associations between pet ownership and air pollution on asthma after adjusting for potential covariates. Results Exposure to increasing levels of air pollutants was associated with higher prevalence of asthma, but associations were significantly attenuated in children who owned pets. For example, compared to children without pets, those who owned pets did not have an increased risk of symptoms of asthma (odds ratio, 1.01, 95% confidence interval: 0.78, 1.30), wheeze (0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76, 1.21), and cough (1.01, 95% CI: 0.87, 1.18) for each 10 µg/m3 increase in PM1 (P‐int < 0.05). Similar trends were observed for other air pollutants. Dog and bird ownership decreased the associations of asthma and cough with air pollutant exposure. The main findings were consistent with a series of sensitivity analyses. Conclusion Current pet ownership may reduce the adverse impact of long‐term air pollution on childhood asthma. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this finding which could have important implications for public health.

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Association of Breastfeeding and Air Pollution Exposure With Lung Function in Chinese Children

Abstract: This cross-sectional study evaluates the association of air pollution exposure and having been breastfed or not with lung function among children in China.

Cited by 37 publications

References 49 publications

Protective Effect of Breastfeeding on the Adverse Health Effects Induced by Air Pollution: Current Evidence and Possible Mechanisms

Protective Effect of Breastfeeding on the Adverse Health Effects Induced by Air Pollution: Current Evidence and Possible Mechanisms

Climate Change and Health

Current pet ownership modifies the adverse association between long‐term ambient air pollution exposure and childhood asthma

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