Timing and duration of traffic-related air pollution exposure and the risk for childhood wheeze and asthma
American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 2015•atsjournals.org
Rationale: The timing and duration of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure may be
important for childhood wheezing and asthma development. Objectives: We examined the
relationship between TRAP exposure and longitudinal wheezing phenotypes and asthma at
age 7 years. Methods: Children completed clinical examinations annually from age 1 year
through age 4 years and age 7 years. Parental-reported wheezing was assessed at each
age, and longitudinal wheezing phenotypes (early-transient, late-onset, persistent) and …
important for childhood wheezing and asthma development. Objectives: We examined the
relationship between TRAP exposure and longitudinal wheezing phenotypes and asthma at
age 7 years. Methods: Children completed clinical examinations annually from age 1 year
through age 4 years and age 7 years. Parental-reported wheezing was assessed at each
age, and longitudinal wheezing phenotypes (early-transient, late-onset, persistent) and …
Rationale: The timing and duration of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure may be important for childhood wheezing and asthma development.
Objectives: We examined the relationship between TRAP exposure and longitudinal wheezing phenotypes and asthma at age 7 years.
Methods: Children completed clinical examinations annually from age 1 year through age 4 years and age 7 years. Parental-reported wheezing was assessed at each age, and longitudinal wheezing phenotypes (early-transient, late-onset, persistent) and asthma were defined at age 7 years. Participants’ time-weighted exposure to TRAP, from birth through age 7 years, was estimated using a land-use regression model. The relationship between TRAP exposure and wheezing phenotypes and asthma was examined.
Measurements and Main Results: High TRAP exposure at birth was significantly associated with both transient and persistent wheezing phenotypes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–2.57 and aOR = 2.31; 95% CI, 1.28–4.15, respectively); exposure from birth to age 1 year and age 1 to 2 years was also associated with persistent wheeze. Only children with high average TRAP exposure from birth through age 7 years were at significantly increased risk for asthma (aOR = 1.71; 95% CI, 1.01–2.88).
Conclusions: Early-life exposure to TRAP is associated with increased risk for persistent wheezing, but only long-term exposure to high levels of TRAP throughout childhood was associated with asthma development.
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