Peak expiratory flow, breath rate and blood pressure in adults with changes in particulate matter air pollution during the Beijing Olympics: A panel study

Abstract

Objectives This study aims to examine whether changes in short-term exposures to particulate matter are associated with changes in lung function, breath rate, and blood pressure among healthy adults and whether smoking status modifies the association. Methods We took advantage of the artificially controlled changes in air pollution levels that occurred during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China and conducted a panel study of 201 Beijing residents. Data were collected before, during, and after the Olympics, respectively. Linear mixed-effects models and generalized estimating equation models were used to compare measurements of peak expiratory flow, breath rate, blood pressure across the three time points. Results The mean values of peak expiratory flow were 346.0 L/min, 399.3 L/min, and 364.1 L/min over the three study periods. Peak expiratory flow levels increased in 78% of the participants when comparing the during- and pre- Olympics time points, while peak expiratory flow levels decreased in 80% of participants for the post- and during-Olympic periods comparison. In subgroup analyses comparing the during -Olympic to pre-Olympic time points, we found a larger percentage change in peak expiratory flow (+17%) among female, younger and non-smoking participants than among male, elderly and smoking participants (+12%). The percentage of participants with a fast breath rate (>20/min) changed from 9.7%, to 4.9%, to 30.1% among females, and from 7.9%, to 2.6%, to 27.3% among males over the three time points respectively. The changes on blood pressure over the three study periods were not very clear, although there is an increase in diastolic pressure and a decrease in pulse pressure among males during the games. Conclusions The results suggest that exposure to different air pollution levels has significant effects on respiratory function. Smoking, age and gender appear to modify participants’ biological response to changes in air quality.

Carbon loading in airway macrophages as a biomarker for individual exposure to particulate matter air pollution — A critical review

“…These findings are in agreement with the epidemiological evidence that air pollution attenuates lung function in children (Gauderman et al, 2007;Urman et al, 2014). In contrast, AM carbon was not associated with pulmonary function parameters in a study of adults (Nwokoro et al, 2012), which is contrary to the respiratory effects of air pollution provided by epidemiological studies (Eckel et al, 2012;Forbes et al, 2009;Mu et al, 2014). The reason of the inconsistent relationship between AM carbon and lung function in adults is, however, unknown.…”

Polydatin protects the respiratory system from PM2.5 exposure

“…Our results showed that the breath flow and volume parameters decreased in animals after exposure to aPM 2.5 2327, supporting the hypothesis that PM 2.5 exposure might reduce lung function. As other traditional parameters, such as P:F ratio or Sa0 2 , are important in evaluating lung function, these indications will be included in further investigation.…”

Accountability studies of air pollution and health effects: lessons learned and recommendations for future natural experiment opportunities

“…53 In a panel study of children living in Beijing, Lin et al (2011) reported reductions in both air pollutant concentrations and exhaled nitric oxide levels during the Olympic Games compared to the Pre-Olympic period, with each 4.0 μg/m 3 increase in black carbon associated and 149 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 concentration associated with 16.6% (95% CI = 14.1%, 19.2%) and 18.7% (95% CI = 15.0, 22.5%) reductions in eNO, respectively. 54 Further, they reported similar reductions in markers of oxidative stress during the Olympic Games (8-oxodG: −37%, 95% CI = −54%, −16%; urinary malonaldehyde: −25%, 95% CI = −34%, −15%) and similarly, decreased 9-oxodG and malonaldehyde levels associated with increased pollutant concentrations (black carbon, PM 2.5 , SO 2 , NO 2 , and CO).…”

“…They have examined health responses to air quality actions directed at traffic pollution, 33,37,42,43 industrial emissions, 11-15,17,29 home heating fuel, 18,22 and both long term reductions in the entire air pollution mixture, 30 and short term temporary reductions ranging from 14 to 47 days. 44,50-52,54,55,59,60,62,64 They have assessed concentration changes and health responses to measured/estimated concentrations of TSP, 28,53 PM 10 , 11-15,38,53,64 PM 2.5 , 30,44,46,51,53,54,59 black carbon, 54 black smoke, 18,21,22 sulfate, 33,44,46,51 other PM size fractions, 44,46,51,53,57 PM components and ions, 44,46,51 NO 2 or NO x , 30,44,46,51,59,60,64 SO 2 , 18,21,22,28,29,33,44,46,51,60,64 CO, 44,46,51,59,60 and O 3 . 42-44,46,51,59 Further, some of these air pollutant concentration changes have been large (e.g.…”

“…Further, some have examined effects on mortality, 11,13-15,17,18,22,29,33,57,58 hospital/emergency room admissions or outpatient visits, 41-43,59,64 birth outcomes, 16,29,39,60 and various cardiovascular and respiratory biomarkers. 44,46,51,53,55 Some studies examined potentially susceptible populations of children and newborns. 12,14,16,28-30,32,42,54,55,60-62,64 …”