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THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Ambient air pollution is associated with lower lung function and increased chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence, according to a study published online July 8 in the European Respiratory Journal<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Dany Doiron, Ph.D., from the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, and colleagues evaluated U.K. Biobank data from 303,887 individuals (aged 40 to 69 years) with complete lung function measures.<\/p>\n
The researchers found that higher exposures to each pollutant (particulate matter [PM2.5<\/sub>, PM10<\/sub>, and PMcoarse<\/sub>] and nitrogen dioxide [NO2<\/sub>]) were significantly associated with lower lung function. Every 5 \u00b5g\/m\u00b3 increase in PM2.5<\/sub> concentration was associated with lower forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity. There was an association between COPD prevalence and higher concentrations of PM2.5<\/sub> (odds ratio [OR], 1.52 [95 percent confidence interval (CI), 1.42 to 1.62] per 5 \u00b5g\/m\u00b3), PM10<\/sub> (OR, 1.08 [95 percent CI, 1.00 to 1.16] per 10 \u00b5g\/m\u00b3), and NO2<\/sub> (OR, 1.12 [95 percent CI, 1.10 to 1.14] per 10 \u00b5g\/m\u00b3), but not with PMcoarse<\/sub> (OR, 0.99 [95 percent CI, 0.91 to 1.07] per 5 \u00b5g\/m\u00b3). Stronger associations between particulate matter and lung function were seen for men, individuals from lower-income households, and “at-risk” occupations. Stronger COPD associations were seen for obese, lower-income, and nonasthmatic participants.<\/p>\n “Further research is needed to investigate the differences in effects between people from lower- and higher-income homes,” a coauthor said in a statement.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n