Modification of Traffic-related Respiratory Response by Asthma Control in a Population of Car Commuters

Abstract

Background Effects of traffic-related exposures on respiratory health are well documented, but little information is available about whether asthma control influences individual susceptibility. We analyzed data from the Atlanta Commuter Exposure study to evaluate modification of associations between rush-hour commuting, in-vehicle air pollution, and selected respiratory health outcomes by asthma control status. Methods Between 2009 and 2011, 39 adults participated in Atlanta Commuter Exposure, and each conducted two scripted rush-hour highway commutes. In-vehicle particulate components were measured during all commutes. Among adults with asthma, we evaluated asthma control by questionnaire and spirometry. Exhaled nitric oxide, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and other metrics of respiratory health were measured precommute and 0, 1, 2, and 3 hours postcommute. We used mixed effects linear regression to evaluate associations between commute-related exposures and postcommute changes in metrics of respiratory health by level of asthma control. Results We observed increased exhaled nitric oxide across all levels of asthma control compared with precommute measurements, with largest postcommute increases observed among participants with below-median asthma control (2 hours postcommute: 14.6% [95% confidence interval {CI} = 5.7, 24.2]; 3 hours postcommute: 19.5% [95% CI = 7.8, 32.5]). No associations between in-vehicle pollutants and percent of predicted FEV1 were observed, although higher PM2.5 was associated with lower FEV1 % predicted among participants with below-median asthma control (3 hours postcommute: −7.2 [95% CI = −11.8, −2.7]). Conclusions Level of asthma control may influence respiratory response to in-vehicle exposures experienced during rush-hour commuting.

The Association between Ambient Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Lung Cancer Incidence: Results from the AHSMOG-2 Study

“…However, we believe the prevalence of ETS is very low in this population given the fact that most Adventists live in nonsmoking households with other Adventists. Also, there was no information on how many hours the participants spent traveling in motor vehicles to and from work that would expose them to traffic air pollution, which is known to have higher concentrations of PM 2.5 than typical residential areas ( Brown et al 2012 ; Knibbs et al 2010 ; Mirabelli et al 2015 ; Weichenthal et al 2015 ). Such information at the individual level could potentially modify the observed associations we have reported.…”

Ambient air pollution is associated with airway inflammation in older women: a nested cross-sectional analysis

“…29 Mirabelli et al conducted a panel study of 39 adults with or without self-reported asthma exposed to traffic-related air pollutants during rush hour commuting in Atlanta. 30 The largest post-commute increases in FeNO were observed in participants with below median asthma control. There was also an association between PM 2.5 in the vehicle and FEV 1 in this group.…”

Particulate metal exposures induce plasma metabolome changes in a commuter panel study

“…We have previously employed panel-based designs, with quasi-experimental exposures, in targeted biomarker analyses following exposures to TRP [ 13 – 15 ]. By introducing repeated biological sampling, researchers can disentangle short term changes in key biological endpoints, such as inflammation and lung function [ 16 ] and potentially reveal new insights on TRP toxicity in humans.…”