PM10 elemental composition and acute respiratory health effects in European children (PEACE project)

Abstract

The ability of particles with a 50% cut‐off aerodynamic diameter of 10 µm (PM10) to cause respiratory health effects possibly depends on their composition. This study evaluated whether the soluble elemental concentrations in PM10 were related to acute respiratory health effects. The Pollution Effects on Asthmatic Children in Europe (PEACE) study is a multicentre study of the acute effects of PM10 and other air pollution components on the respiratory health of children with chronic respiratory symptoms in urban and suburban panels. Children, 1208, divided among 17 panels were followed for ≥2 months. Exposure to air pollution was monitored on a daily basis. Health status was monitored by twice daily peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements and a symptom diary. Median concentrations of iron ranged 105–1,110 ng·m‐3 in the urban and 32–517 ng·m‐3 in the suburban locations. The daily concentrations of most elements were not associated with daily variation in PEF, prevalence of respiratory symptoms or bronchodilator use. Silicon and iron concentrations tended to be negatively associated with PEF, and positively associated with the prevalence of phlegm. In two pollutant models, PM10 effect‐estimates on phlegm prevalence were reduced and lost significance, whereas the effect‐estimates of iron or silicon remained essentially unchanged. The effects of silicon and iron could not be separated. In conclusion, this study provides only weak support for the hypothesis that daily fluctuations in soluble elemental concentrations in ambient particulate matter are responsible for acute health effects.

Increased asthma medication use in association with ambient fine and ultrafine particles

“…An association with elevated PM10 concentrations was observed in symptomatic children [4,5,28,31]. In other recent studies, however, PM10 showed no effect on lower respiratory symptoms in adults [32] and children [9,33,35] (PEACE study). In the PEACE study, the short follow-up period made it difficult to control for seasonal or other time trends.…”

Roles of oxidative stress in signaling and inflammation induced by particulate matter

“…Taking in consideration that the lung is the main target organ during exposure to ambient air pollutants, it is not surprising that there is a relationship between metal occupational exposition and spirometric parameters. Hence, FEV 1 and FVC decrease with chronic exposure to Pb (Bagci et al 2004;Hong et al 2007), Mn (Boojar and Goodarzi 2002;Hong et al 2007), Zn (Lagorio et al 2006) and Fe (Dusseldorp et al 1995;Roemer et al 2000;Seaton et al 1995). Additionally, adverse health effects like lung fibrosis are related to Ni (Kasprzak et al 2003;Zhao et al 2009b) and V (Bonner et al 2000) exposition.…”

Forecasting hourly PM10 concentration in Cyprus through artificial neural networks and multiple regression models: implications to local environmental management

“…Roemer et al (2000) and Middleton et al (2008)). However, due to the complexity of the processes that control the formation, transportation and removal of particulate matter in the atmosphere, the modelling and prediction of aerosol concentrations are considered to be more difficult and complex than the forecasting of the common gaseous pollutants.…”