Genetic susceptibility to asthma increases the vulnerability to indoor air pollution

IntroductionIndoor air pollution and maternal smoking during pregnancy are associated with respiratory symptoms in infants, but little is known about the direct association with lung function or interactions with genetic risk factors. We examined associations of exposure to indoor particulate matter with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 10 µm (PM10) and maternal smoking with infant lung function and the role of gene–environment interactions.MethodsData from the Drakenstein Child Health Study, a South African birth cohort, were analysed (n=270). Lung function was measured at 6 weeks and 1 year of age, and lower respiratory tract infection episodes were documented. We measured pre- and postnatal PM10 exposures using devices placed in homes, and prenatal tobacco smoke exposure using maternal urine cotinine levels. Genetic risk scores determined from associations with childhood-onset asthma in the UK Biobank were used to investigate effect modifications.ResultsPre- and postnatal exposure to PM10 as well as maternal smoking during pregnancy were associated with reduced lung function at 6 weeks and 1 year as well as with lower respiratory tract infection in the first year. Due to a significant interaction between the genetic risk score and prenatal exposure to PM10, infants carrying more asthma-related risk alleles were more susceptible to PM10-associated reduced lung function (pinteraction=0.007). This interaction was stronger in infants with Black African ancestry (pinteraction=0.001) and nonexistent in children with mixed ancestry (pinteraction=0.876).ConclusionsPM10 and maternal smoking exposures were associated with reduced lung function, with a higher susceptibility for infants with an adverse genetic predisposition for asthma that also depended on the infant's ancestry.

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Indoor Air Pollution as a Risk Factor of Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Children

Journal of Nepalgunj Medical College ◽

10.3126/jngmc.v13i1.16398 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 5-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Niraj Acharya ◽

Pradip Mishra ◽

Veena Gupta

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Family History ◽

Tract Infection ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Tract Infection ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Lower Respiratory Tract ◽

Indoor Air Pollution ◽

Domestic Animal ◽

History Of

Introduction: This study was conducted to find out if indoor air pollution has any risk in occurrence of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) in children.Materials and methods: It was a case control study conducted on total 214 children 107 cases and 107 controls fulfilling the inclusion criteria with age and sex matched. Detailed history and physical examination was done after taking informed consent. History of upper respiratory tract infection in the family members and siblings, history of smoking by various family members, details of cooking fuel and indoor pollution was also recorded.Results: Those families using wood as a cooking material were associated with higher risk of ALRI (p=0.0001). Exposure to domestic animal was significantly positively associated (p=0.0001) and seven times higher risk to develop ALRI as compared to control group. Those children of case group who did not have separate kitchen were having nine times higher risk of ALRI (p=0.001). Family history of smoking was associated with six times increased risk of ALRI (p=0.001). With the use of kerosene lamps risk of ALRI was increased by 1.44 times (p=0.012).Conclusions: The significant environmental risk factors for ALRI were wood as cooking material, presence of domestic animal, place for cooking, family history of smoking, absence of windows and kerosene lamp as a source of light.Journal of Nepalgunj Medical College Vol.13(1) 2015: 5-7

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