Late Breaking Abstract - Ambient air pollution and respiratory health in sub-Saharan African children: a cross-sectional analysis

Ambient air pollution is projected to become a major environmental risk in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Research into its health impacts is hindered by limited data. We aimed to investigate the cross-sectional relationship between particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and prevalence of cough or acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) among children under five in SSA. Data were collected from 31 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in 21 SSA countries between 2005–2018. Prior-month average PM2.5 preceding the survey date was assessed based on satellite measurements and a chemical transport model. Cough and ALRI in the past two weeks were derived from questionnaires. Associations were analysed using conditional logistic regression within each survey cluster, adjusting for child’s age, sex, birth size, household wealth, maternal education, maternal age and month of the interview. Survey-specific odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using random-effect meta-analysis. Included were 368,366 and 109,664 children for the analysis of cough and ALRI, respectively. On average, 20.5% children had reported a cough, 6.4% reported ALRI, and 32% of children lived in urban areas. Prior-month average PM2.5 ranged from 8.9 to 64.6 μg/m3. Pooling all surveys, no associations were observed with either outcome in the overall populations. Among countries with medium-to-high Human Development Index, positive associations were observed with both cough (pooled OR: 1.022, 95%CI: 0.982–1.064) and ALRI (pooled OR: 1.018, 95%CI: 0.975–1.064) for 1 μg/m3 higher of PM2.5. This explorative study found no associations between short-term ambient PM2.5 and respiratory health among young SSA children, necessitating future analyses using better-defined exposure and health metrics to study this important link.

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Ambient Air Pollution and Cardiorespiratory Outcomes amongst Adults Residing in Four Informal Settlements in the Western Province of South Africa

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182413306 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 13306

Author(s):

Herman Bagula ◽

Toyib Olaniyan ◽

Kees de Hoogh ◽

Apolline Saucy ◽

Bhawoodien Parker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Chest Pain ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Informal Settlements ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Interquartile Range ◽

Ambient Air Pollution ◽

Western Cape ◽

Cross Sectional

Few studies have investigated the relationship between ambient air pollution and cardiorespiratory outcomes in Africa. A cross-sectional study comprising of 572 adults from four informal settlements in the Western Cape, South Africa was conducted. Participants completed a questionnaire adapted from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey questionnaire. Exposure estimates were previously modelled using Land-Use Regression for Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) at participants’ homes. The median age of the participants was 40.7 years, and 88.5% were female. The median annual NO2 level was 19.7 µg/m3 (interquartile range [IQR: 9.6–23.7]) and the median annual PM2.5 level was 9.7 µg/m3 (IQR: 7.3–12.4). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between outcome variables and air pollutants. An interquartile range increase of 5.12 µg/m3 in PM2.5 was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of self-reported chest-pain, [Odds ratio: 1.38 (95% CI: 1.06–1.80)], adjusting for NO2, and other covariates. The study found preliminary circumstantial evidence of an association between annual ambient PM2.5 exposure and self-reported chest-pain (a crude proxy of angina-related pain), even at levels below the South African National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

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Ambient air pollution, lung function and COPD: cross-sectional analysis from the WHO Study of AGEing and adult health wave 1

BMJ Open Respiratory Research ◽

10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000684 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. e000684

Author(s):

Mona Elbarbary ◽

Artem Oganesyan ◽

Trenton Honda ◽

Patrick Kelly ◽

Ying Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Lung Function ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Ambient Air Pollution ◽

Adult Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Lower Lung ◽

Older Chinese ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

Older Chinese Adults

BackgroundLong-term exposure to ambient air pollution leads to respiratory morbidity and mortality; however, the evidence of the effect on lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in older adult populations is inconsistent.ObjectiveTo address this knowledge gap, we investigated the associations between particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure and lung function, as well as COPD prevalence, in older Chinese adults.MethodsWe used data from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) China Wave 1, which includes 11, 693 participants from 64 townships in China. A cross-sectional analysis explored the association between satellite-based air pollution exposure estimates (PM with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 µm [PM10], ≤2.5 µm [PM2.5] and NO2) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), the FEV1/FVC ratio and COPD (defined as post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <70%). Data on lung function changes were further stratified by COPD status.ResultsHigher exposure to each pollutant was associated with lower lung function. An IQR (26.1 µg/m3) increase in PM2.5 was associated with lower FEV1 (−71.88 mL, 95% CI –92.13 to –51.64) and FEV1/FVC (−2.81, 95% CI −3.37 to –2.25). For NO2, an IQR increment of 26.8 µg/m3 was associated with decreases in FEV1 (−60.12 mL, 95% CI –84.00 to –36.23) and FVC (−32.33 mL, 95% CI –56.35 to –8.32). A 31.2 µg/m3 IQR increase in PM10 was linked to reduced FEV1 (−8.86 mL, 95% CI −5.40 to 23.11) and FEV1/FVC (−1.85, 95% CI −2.24 to –1.46). These associations were stronger for participants with COPD. Also, COPD prevalence was linked to higher levels of PM2.5 (POR 1.35, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.43), PM10 (POR 1.24, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.29) and NO2 (POR 1.04, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.11).ConclusionAmbient air pollution was associated with lower lung function, especially in individuals with COPD, and increased COPD prevalence in older Chinese adults.

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