Acute effects of low levels of ambient ozone on peak expiratory flow rate in a cohort of Australian children

Date

2000

Authors

Jalaludin, Bin
Chey, Tien
O'Toole, B
Smith, Wayne
Capon, A
Leeder, Stephen

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Abstract

Background. We enrolled a cohort of primary schoolchildren with a history of wheeze (n = 148) in an 11-month longitudinal study to examine the relationship between ambient ozone concentrations and peak expiratory flow rate. Methods. Enrolled children recorded peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) twice daily. We obtained air pollution, meteorological and pollen data. In all, 125 children remained in the final analysis. Results. We found a significant negative association between daily mean deviation in PEFR and same-day mean daytime ozone concentration (β-coefficient = 0.88; P = 0.04) after adjusting for co-pollutants, time trend, meteorological variables, pollen count and Alternaria count. The association was stronger in a subgroup of children with bronchial hyperreactivity and a doctor diagnosis of asthma (β-coefficient = -2.61; P = 0.001). There was no significant association between PEFR and same-day daily daytime maximum ozone concentration. We also demonstrated a dose-response relationship with mean daytime ozone concentration. Conclusions. Moderate levels of ambient ozone have an adverse health effect on children with a history of wheezing, and this effect is larger in children with bronchial hyperreactivity and a doctor diagnosis of asthma.

Description

Keywords

Keywords: ozone; asthma; child health; health impact; ozone; pollution exposure; air pollution; article; asthma; Australia; bronchus hyperreactivity; cohort analysis; controlled study; female; human; longitudinal study; male; meteorology; peak expiratory flow; poll Air pollution; Ambient ozone; Asthma; Bronchial hyperresponsiveness; Children; Lung function; Peak expiratory flow rate

Citation

Source

International Journal of Epidemiology

Type

Journal article

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DOI

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2037-12-31