Bisphenol A(BPA) alters molecular signaling in Immune cells that promotes the development of childhood asthma

Abstract

RATIONALE: Air pollution has been associated with asthma development and morbidity. We aimed to determine the effect of indoor classroom Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) on the lung function of inner city schoolchildren with asthma. METHODS: Children enrolled in the School Inner City Asthma Study were followed for one academic year. At baseline, subjects underwent phenotypic characterization, allergy testing, fractional exhalation of nitric oxide (FeNO) and spirometry. Spirometry and FeNO were repeated twice during the school year. Classroom NO 2 was collected by passive sampling technique for 1 week periods, twice per year. Generalized estimating equation models assessed lung function parameters (FEV 1 /FVC, FEV 1 % predicted, and FEF 25-75 % predicted) with the classroom NO 2 level temporally closest to the outcome assessment. The primary outcome was FEV1/FVC ratio as the most sensitive measure of airflow obstruction in children. RESULTS: In total, complete exposure and outcome data was available for 188 subjects from 135 classrooms across 29 schools. After adjusting for race and season (spirometry reference values standardized by age, height and gender), NO 2 was highly associated with increased airflow obstruction such that each 10ppb rise in NO 2 exposure was associated with a 3% decline in FEV 1 /FVC (b:-0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-0.05,-0.00], p50.03). FEF 25-75 % predicted was also lower with higher NO 2 exposure (b:-14.1, 95%CI [-25.1,-3.0], p50.01). There was no association of NO 2 with FEV 1 % predicted (b:-1.6, 95%CI [-6.7, 3.5], p50.5) or FeNO (b:-2.9, 95%CI [-14.1, 8.4], p50.6). CONCLUSIONS: In children with asthma, indoor classroom NO 2 may be associated with increase airflow obstruction.