Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Otitis Media

Abstract

BackgroundOtitis media is one of the most common infections in young children. Although exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a known risk factor associated with otitis media, little information is available regarding the potential association with air pollution.ObjectiveWe set out to study the relationship between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and otitis media in two birth cohorts.MethodsIndividual estimates of outdoor concentrations of traffic-related air pollutants—nitrogen dioxide, fine particles [particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5)], and elemental carbon—were calculated for home addresses of approximately 3,700 and 650 infants from birth cohort studies in the Netherlands and Germany, respectively. Air pollution exposure was analyzed in relation to physician diagnosis of otitis media in the first 2 years of life.ResultsOdds ratios (adjusted for known major risk factors) for otitis media indicated positive associations with traffic-related air pollutants. An increase in 3 μg/m3 PM2.5, 0.5 μg/m3 elemental carbon, and 10 μg/m3 NO2 was associated with odds ratios of 1.13 (95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.27), 1.10 (1.00–1.22), and 1.14 (1.03–1.27) in the Netherlands and 1.24 (0.84–1.83), 1.10 (0.86–1.41), and 1.14 (0.87–1.49) in Germany, respectively.ConclusionsThese findings indicate an association between exposure to traffic-related air pollutants and the incidence of otitis media. Given the ubiquitous nature of air pollution exposure and the importance of otitis media to children’s health, these findings have significant public health implications.

Doenças infecciosas e parasitárias por veiculação hídrica e doenças respiratórias em área industrial, Norte do Brasil

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“…Verschiedene regionale Studien über-prüfen insbesondere den Zusammenhang zwischen Umweltfaktoren und dem Auftreten einer Mittelohrentzündung [21,22,23]. So beschreiben Heinrich et al [22] eine [46].…”

Health effects of air pollution observed in cohort studies in Europe

“…In a collaborative study, within-city contrasts in PM 2.5 , black smoke and NO 2 were examined and modelled to provide exposure assessment for ongoing epidemiologic studies on development of allergy and asthma in young children (Brauer et al, 2003). Significant associations have been reported from these studies so far on symptoms of wheeze, upper and lower respiratory symptoms, allergic sensitisation and otitis media (Brauer et al, 2002(Brauer et al, , 2006(Brauer et al, , 2007Gehring et al, 2002;Morgenstern et al, 2007). Table 3 provides some quantitative effect estimates from these studies expressed per 10 mg/m 3 NO 2 .…”