nitrogen-dioxide and Chronic-Disease

Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Air Pollution, Indoor; Anhydrides; Asthma; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Environmental Illness; Global Health; Heart Diseases; Humans; Lung Diseases; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Risk Factors; Sulfur Compounds

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) occur throughout the world as the primary pollutants of urban air. NO2 and O3 oxidize cell membrane lipids and proteins. Inflammatory agents are elaborated from the lung either as a direct result of oxidation or as a consequence of leukocytes recruited into the lung by injury. My hypothesis is that NO2 and O3 initiate or exacerbate chronic lung disease through an inflammatory mechanism which can be reduced by supplementation with greater amounts than those required to alleviate vitamin deficiency symptoms of vitamins C (ascorbic acid) and E (alpha-tocopherol). Children, whose lungs are developing, are the most likely group to benefit from supplementation with vitamins C and E because the adverse effects of inflammation on the developing lung are likely to be greater and the time of exposure is longer than in adults. This hypothesis is in accord with current human and experimental animal data and the chemistry of O3 and NO2 toxicity, and is supported by recent ecological epidemiological studies of persons supplementing their intake of vitamins C and E.

Topics: Air Pollutants; Animals; Chronic Disease; Humans; Lung Diseases; Nitrogen Dioxide; Oxidation-Reduction; Ozone; Stress, Physiological

This article discusses the nomenclature of respiratory disease, acute respiratory distress syndromes, hypersensitivity diseases, chronic respiratory disease, and the differential diagnosis of respiratory disease.

Topics: Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic; Anaphylaxis; Animals; Brassica; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Chronic Disease; Diagnosis, Differential; Granuloma; Lung Neoplasms; Manure; Monoterpenes; Nitrogen Dioxide; Plant Poisoning; Pneumonia; Pneumonia, Atypical Interstitial, of Cattle; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Smog; Terpenes; Zinc Oxide

Topics: Aerosols; Air Pollution; Animals; Chronic Disease; Cricetinae; Environmental Health; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Hydrocarbons; Lung; Mice; Nitrogen; Nitrogen Dioxide; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxides; Ozone; Rabbits; Rats; Respiratory Tract Infections; Vehicle Emissions

Air pollution directly interacts with airway mucosa, yet little is known about how pollutants affect upper airway inflammation. Studies have shown increased incidence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), rhinitis, and asthma in areas with higher traffic pollution, and these neighborhoods are often associated with lower socioeconomic status (SES). The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) assesses neighborhood-level SES by zip code. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between SES and exposure to inhaled pollutants and CRS disease severity.. CRS patients with and without nasal polyps (CRSwNP and CRSsNP, respectively) were identified (total patients = 234; CRSwNP patients = 138; CRSsNP patients = 96). Pollutant concentrations, including particulate matter 2.5 (PM. The distribution of CRSsNP and CRSwNP patients across ADI state deciles was similar. ADI, however, was a predictor of exposure to airborne pollutants (PM. Lower SES predicted higher exposure to air pollution and increased disease severity in patients with CRS as demonstrated by the increased need for steroid treatment.

Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Chronic Disease; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Pollutants; Humans; Nitrogen Dioxide; Particulate Matter; Severity of Illness Index; Sinusitis; Social Class

Air pollution is a growing concern in Korea because of transboundary air pollution from mainland China. A panel study was conducted to clarify the effects of air pollution on respiratory symptoms and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in outpatients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Korea.. Patients filled out a questionnaire including self-reported HR-QoL in February and were followed up in May and July. The study was conducted from 2013 to 2015, with different participants each year. Air quality parameters were applied in a generalized estimating equation as independent variables to predict factors affecting HR-QoL.. Lower physical fitness scores were associated with Asian sand dust events. Daily activity scores were worse when there were high concentrations of particulate matter (PM) less than 10 μm in diameter (PM. The results suggest that PM, NO

Topics: Adult; Aged; Air Pollutants; Chronic Disease; Dust; Female; Humans; Lung Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Nitrogen Dioxide; Outpatients; Ozone; Particulate Matter; Quality of Life; Republic of Korea; Seasons; Self Report; Surveys and Questionnaires

An irreversible loss in lung function limits the long-term success in lung transplantation. We evaluated the role of chronic exposure to ambient air pollution on lung function levels in lung transplant recipients (LTRs).The lung function of 520 LTRs from the Cohort in Lung Transplantation (COLT) study was measured every 6 months. The levels of air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide (NO

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Air Pollution; Allografts; Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Chronic Disease; Environmental Exposure; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; France; Humans; Linear Models; Longitudinal Studies; Lung; Lung Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Particulate Matter; Primary Graft Dysfunction; Spirometry; Vital Capacity; Young Adult

The objective of this study was to use health administrative and environmental data to quantify the effects of ambient air pollution on health service use among those with chronic diseases. We hypothesised that health service use would be higher among those with more exposure to air pollution as measured by the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI).. Health administrative data was used to quantify health service use at the primary (physician office visits) and secondary (emergency department visits, hospitalisations) level of care in Ontario, Canada.. We included individuals who resided in Ontario, Canada, from 2003 to 2010, who were ever diagnosed with one of 11 major chronic diseases.. Rate ratios (RR) from Poisson regression models were used to estimate the short-term impact of incremental unit increases in AQHI, nitrogen dioxide (NO2; 10 ppb), fine particulate matter (PM2.5; 10 µg/m(3)) and ozone (O3; 10 ppb) on health services use among individuals with each disease. We adjusted for age, sex, day of the week, temperature, season, year, socioeconomic status and region of residence.. Increases in outpatient visits ranged from 1% to 5% for every unit increase in the 10-point AQHI scale, corresponding to an increase of about 15,000 outpatient visits on a day with poor versus good air quality. The greatest increases in outpatient visits were for individuals with non-lung cancers (AQHI:RR=1.05; NO2:RR=1.14; p<0.0001) and COPD (AQHI:RR=1.05; NO2:RR=1.12; p<0.0001) and in hospitalisations, for individuals with diabetes (AQHI:RR=1.04; NO2:RR=1.07; p<0.0001) and COPD (AQHI:RR=1.03; NO2:RR=1.09; p<1.001). The impact remained 2 days after peak AQHI levels.. Among individuals with chronic diseases, health service use increased with higher levels of exposure to air pollution, as measured by the AQHI. Future research would do well to measure the utility of targeted air quality advisories based on the AQHI to reduce associated health service use.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Canada; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Emergency Service, Hospital; Environmental Exposure; Female; Health Care Surveys; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ontario; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Ozone; Particulate Matter; Regression Analysis; Time Factors; Young Adult

A method for experimental reproduction of stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease formation (from acute inflammation to bronchopulmonary tissue restructuring characteristic of this disease) is presented. Lung injury and inflammation were induced by nitrogen dioxide. Hyperplasia and hypersecretion of goblet cells, squamous cell metaplasia of the ciliary epithelium, emphysema, and focal fibrosis served as the morphological substrate for the formation of bronchial obstruction. The adequacy of the model is confirmed by signs characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: hyperexpression of CD3 lymphocytes in the bronchial wall and parenchyma, manifold increased production of TNFα and TGFβ, high concentrations of circulating pathogenic immune complexes. Persistence of the structural and functional shifts throughout 6 months after exposure to nitrogen dioxide indicated a chronic course of the resultant pathological process.

Topics: Animals; Antigen-Antibody Complex; CD3 Complex; Chronic Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Goblet Cells; Inflammation; Lung; Lymphocytes; Male; Nitrogen Dioxide; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Pulmonary Emphysema; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Mumbai, a mega city with a population of more than 12 million, is experiencing acute air pollution due to commercial activity, a boom in construction and vehicular traffic. This study was undertaken to investigate the link between air pollution and health impacts for Mumbai, and estimate the monetary burden of these impacts.. Cross-sectional data were subjected to logistic regression to analyse the link between air pollution and health impacts, and the cost of illness approach was used to measure the monetary burden of these impacts.. Data collected by the Environmental Pollution Research Centre at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai were analysed using logistic regression to investigate the link between air pollution and morbidity impacts. The monetary burden of morbidity was estimated through the cost of illness approach. For this purpose, information on treatment costs and foregone earnings due to illness was obtained through the household survey and interviews with medical practitioners.. Particulate matter (PM(10)) and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) emerged as the critical pollutants for a range of health impacts, including symptoms such as cough, breathlessness, wheezing and cold, and illnesses such as allergic rhinitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study developed the concentration-response coefficients for these health impacts. The total monetary burden of these impacts, including personal burden, government expenditure and societal cost, is estimated at 4522.96 million Indian Rupees (INR) or US$ 113.08 million for a 50-μg/m(3) increase in PM(10), and INR 8723.59 million or US$ 218.10 million for a similar increase in NO(2).. The estimated monetary burden of health impacts associated with air pollution in Mumbai mainly comprises out-of-pocket expenses of city residents. These expenses form a sizable proportion of the annual income of individuals, particularly those belonging to poor households. These findings have implications for public health policy, particularly accessibility and affordability of health care for poor households in Mumbai. The study provides a rationale for strengthening the public health services in the city to make them more accessible to poor households, especially those living in the slums of Mumbai.

Topics: Air Pollution; Chronic Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Environmental Health; Health Care Costs; Health Policy; Humans; India; Logistic Models; Nitrogen Dioxide; Particulate Matter; Public Health; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Risk Factors

The bronchodilatatory effect of inhaled dopamine or dopamine D(2) receptor agonists in cases of bronchial constriction may involve the suppression of pathologically increased airway sensory nerve activity. The aim of this study is to investigate the regulation of the dopamine D(2) receptor mRNA expression in the ganglia of rats with nitrogen dioxide-induced chronic bronchitis compared with that in ganglia of healthy control animals. Rats were exposed to nitrogen dioxide (10 ppm, 20 d) and dopamine D(2) receptor mRNA levels in sensory ganglia (jugular-nodose, trigeminal, cervical dorsal root and thoracic dorsal root ganglia) were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and compared to control tissues. Whereas for trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia the dopamine D(2) receptor expression levels showed no difference between both animal groups, there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the jugular-nodose ganglia with a 2.1-fold factor. The increase of dopamine D(2) receptor mRNA in jugular-nodose sensory neurons which innervate the airways may represent a neurochemical basis for the effects seen in man and animal models following topical administration of dopamine or dopamine agonists onto the respiratory epithelium.

Topics: Animals; Bronchitis; Cervical Vertebrae; Chronic Disease; Ganglia, Spinal; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Nitrogen Dioxide; Nodose Ganglion; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Dopamine D2; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Thoracic Vertebrae; Trigeminal Ganglion

Many chronic diseases are the product of an underlying pathologic condition and superimposed acute exacerbations. This model may apply to several conditions such as asthma, other obstructive lung diseases, or atherosclerosis. For exposures affecting both the development of chronic disease and its exacerbation, the usual methods to derive attributable risks (AR) are inappropriate.. We expand traditional risk assessment methods to estimate the AR for exacerbations under a "chronic disease model." We use asthma in children as the chronic disease and air pollution as the exposure of interest. We estimate bronchitis symptom exacerbations attributable to air pollution, using data from the Children's Health Study to estimate asthma prevalence and symptom occurrence, and we examine the distribution of exposure and its acute and chronic effects.. In the combined AR model, 39.8% of exacerbations were attributable to air pollution, compared with 33.5% in the traditional model, which ignores a chronic effect of pollution on asthma development. Thus, there is a 1.19-fold higher estimated burden with the combined model. The difference is due to exacerbations caused by other factors (ie, not by air pollution) but nonetheless occurring among those assumed to have asthma that developed due to traffic-related pollution. The proposed model is applicable to other risk factors that play a role both in both the development of a chronic disease and its exacerbation.. Traditional approaches to the calculation of attributable risk may underestimate the health impact of long-term environmental or other exposures that produce both chronic and acute disease.

Topics: Adolescent; Air Pollution; Asthma; Bronchitis; California; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Environmental Exposure; Epidemiologic Methods; Humans; Infant; Models, Statistical; Motor Vehicles; Nitrogen Dioxide; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Vehicle Emissions

To explore various contributors to people's reporting of self reported air pollution problems in area of living, including GIS-modeled air pollution, and to investigate whether those with respiratory or other chronic diseases tend to over-report air pollution problems, compared to healthy people.. Cross-sectional data from the Oslo Health Study (2000-2001) were linked with GIS-modeled air pollution data from the Norwegian Institute of Air Research. Multivariate regression analyses were performed. 14 294 persons aged 30, 40, 45, 60 or 75 years old with complete information on modeled and self reported air pollution were included.. People who reported air pollution problems were exposed to significantly higher GIS-modeled air pollution levels than those who did not report such problems. People with chronic disease, reported significantly more air pollution problems after adjustment for modeled levels of nitrogen dioxides, socio-demographic variables, smoking, depression, dwelling conditions and an area deprivation index, even if they had a non-respiratory disease. No diseases, however, were significantly associated with levels of nitrogen dioxides.. Self reported air pollution problems in area of living are strongly associated with increased levels of GIS-modeled air pollution. Over and above this, those who report to have a chronic disease tend to report more air pollution problems in area of living, despite no significant difference in air pollution exposure compared to healthy people, and no associations between these diseases and NO2. Studies on the association between self reported air pollution problems and health should be aware of the possibility that disease itself may influence the reporting of air pollution.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Air Pollution; Air Pollution, Indoor; Chi-Square Distribution; Chronic Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Geographic Information Systems; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Statistical; Nitrogen Dioxide; Norway; Perception; Regression Analysis; Residence Characteristics

Short-term increases in particulate air pollution are linked with increased daily mortality and morbidity. Socioeconomic status (SES) is a determinant of overall health. We investigated whether social class is an effect modifier of the PM(10) (particulate matter with diameter <10 micron)-daily mortality association, and possible mechanisms for this effect modification.. Area-based traffic emissions, income, and SES were available for each resident in Rome. All natural deaths (83,253 subjects) occurring in Rome among city residents (aged 35+ years) during the period 1998-2001 were identified. For each deceased individual, all the previous hospitalizations within 2 years before death were available via a record linkage procedure. PM(10) daily data were available from two urban monitoring sites. A case-crossover analysis was utilized in which control days were selected according to the time stratified approach (same day of the week during the same month). Conditional logistic regression was used.. Due to the social class distribution in the city, exposure to traffic emissions was higher among those with higher area-based income and SES. Meanwhile, people of lower social class had suffered to a larger extent from chronic diseases before death than more affluent residents, especially diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Overall, PM(10) (lag 0-1) was strongly associated with mortality (1.1% increase, 95%CI = 0.7-1.6%, per 10 microg/m(3)). The effect was more pronounced among persons with lower income and SES (1.9% and 1.4% per 10 microg/m(3), respectively) compared to those in the upper income and SES levels (0.0% and 0.1%, respectively).. The results confirm previous suggestions of a stronger effect of particulate air pollution among people in low social class. Given the uneven geographical distributions of social deprivation and traffic emissions in Rome, the most likely explanation is a differential burden of chronic health conditions conferring a greater susceptibility to less advantaged people.

Topics: Adult; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Carbon Monoxide; Chronic Disease; Disease Susceptibility; Environmental Exposure; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Middle Aged; Mortality; Nitrogen Dioxide; Particulate Matter; Residence Characteristics; Rome; Social Class; Socioeconomic Factors; Vehicle Emissions

Chronic nitric oxide synthase inhibition (NOSI) causes chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat. We previously showed that the Wistar-Furth (WF) rats are resistant to several models of CKD and maintain renal nitric oxide (NO) production compared with SD rats, whereas low-dose NOSI caused progression of CKD in WF rats. Here, we evaluate the impact of high-dose chronic NOSI in WF and SD rats, as well as intrarenal responses to an acute pressor dose of NOSI in the normal WF. Rats were given N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) (150 and 300 mg/l for 6-10 wk) in the drinking water after an initial bolus tail vein injection. Both strains showed significant reductions in total NO production with chronic l-NAME. SD given 150 mg/l l-NAME for 6 wk developed proteinuria and renal injury, whereas WF rats receiving 150 mg/l l-NAME for 6-10 wk or 300 mg/l for 6 wk developed no proteinuria and minimal renal injury. Blood pressure was significantly elevated with chronic NOSI in both strains but was higher in the SD rat. There was little impact on renal nitric oxide synthase expression with l-NAME, except that cortical endothelial nitric oxide synthase abundance increased in WF after 6 wk (150 mg/l). Micropuncture experiments with acute pressor NOSI resulted in similar increases in systemic blood pressure in SD and WF rats, whereas WF rats showed a much smaller increment in glomerular blood pressure compared with SD rats. In conclusion, WF rats do not develop renal injury after chronic NOSI at, or above, a dose that causes significant injury in the SD rat. This protection may be associated with protection from glomerular hypertension.

Topics: Animals; Chronic Disease; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Kidney; Kidney Diseases; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitrogen Dioxide; omega-N-Methylarginine; Puromycin; Rats; Rats, Inbred WF; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Time Factors

During inspiration the lung is exposed to numerous oxidants and therefore has developed a system of antioxidant defense. This organ, besides the liver, is the major source of glutathione (GSH) metabolism, from which type II pneumocytes are metabolically the most active cells.. To analyze oxidative stress, rats were exposed to air (control) or to 10 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for 3 and 20 days to induce acute and chronic lung injury. As measure of oxidative stress, GSH/GSSG ratios in blood, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and type II pneumocytes were determined. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) was also measured in type II cells. To investigate the basis of these observations, GSH metabolism in type II pneumocytes was studied, analyzing mRNA expression of gamma-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS), glutathione synthetase (GS), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT), glutathione peroxidases (GPXs) and glutathione reductase (GR). Furthermore, enzyme activities of GPX and GR were determined.. In acute and chronic lung injury the GSH/GSSG ratio was reduced in blood and BAL, but there was no change in type II pneumocytes. LPO in type II cells was only reduced in acute lung injury. In both kinds of lung injury mRNA expression of gamma-GCS, GS and GPX3 decreased, while expression of gamma-GT and GR increased. GPX4 mRNA expression decreased in acute lung injury and increased in the chronic state. Enzyme activity of GPX and GR was generally increased in lung injury.. In NO2 induced acute and chronic lung injury, GSH metabolism is imbalanced.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Chronic Disease; Enzymes; Glutathione; Glutathione Peroxidase; Lung; Lung Injury; Nitrogen Dioxide; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Rats; RNA, Messenger

Based on several severe air pollution episodes, a temporal correlation between high concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and SO2 pollution and acute increases in respiratory and cardiopulmonary mortality had been established in Vienna for the 1970's. After air pollution had decreased in Austria in the 1980's--as documented by data on SO2, and total suspended particles (TSP)--no such associations between day-to-day changes of SO2 and TSP and mortality have been documented any more, however, traffic related pollutants like fine particles and NO2 remained a problem. Therefore, short term effects of PM on lung function, morbidity and mortality were investigated in Vienna, Linz, Graz and a rural control area. Long-term exposure and chronic disease--even more important for public health--were studied in repeated cross-sectional, a mixed longitudinal and a birth cohort study on school children in the city of Linz. Lung function growth was found impaired from long-term exposure to air pollutants and improved in districts where ambient air pollution had decreased. Where only TSP and SO2 had decreased, no continuous improvement of small airway function was found and end-expiratory flow rates stayed impaired where NO2-reduction from technical improvements of cars and industry was counterbalanced by increase of motorized (diesel) traffic. Remaining acute effects of ambient air pollution in 2001 from PM, NO2 and co-pollutants found in a time series study also show that continuing efforts are necessary. Active surface of particles inhaled several hours to days before spirometry was found related to short-term reductions in forced vital capacity-FVC (p<0.01), forced expiratory volume in one second-FEV1 (p<0.01) and maximal expiratory flow rate at 50% of vital capacity-MEF50 (p<0.05). In pupils with asthma or previous airway obstruction 4-week-diaries proved that the following symptoms increased with acute exposure to higher active surface of particles: wheezing (p<0.01), dyspnea, cough when going to sleep, cough at night (p<0.05). Efforts to reduce exposure to fine particles from motor traffic and passive smoking have to be increased if we want to achieve full recovery of children from air pollution effects and best respiratory performance in adulthood. Surveillance seems to be necessary not only for particle mass but also for particle number and surface. Little is known on the mechanisms of irreversible long-term effects of PM such as myocardial infarction and can

Topics: Adult; Air Pollutants; Austria; Cause of Death; Child; Chronic Disease; Cohort Studies; Dust; Female; Forecasting; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Lung Diseases; Male; Nitrogen Dioxide; Risk Assessment; Rural Population; Sulfur Dioxide; Urban Population

To study possible chronic respiratory effects of air pollutants, we initiated a 10-yr prospective cohort study of Southern California children, with a study design focused on four pollutants: ozone, particulate matter, acids, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Twelve demographically similar communities were selected on the basis of historic monitoring information to represent extremes of exposure to one or more pollutants. In each community, about 150 public school students in grade 4, 75 in grade 7, and 75 in grade 10 were enrolled through their classrooms. Informed consent and written responses to surveys about students' lifetime residential histories, historic and current health status, residential characteristics, and physical activity were obtained with the help of the parents. In the first testing season, 3,676 students returned questionnaires. We confirmed associations previously reported between respiratory morbidity prevalence and the presence of personal, demographic, and residential risk factors. Rates of respiratory illness were higher for males, those living in houses with pets, pests, mildew, and water damage, those whose parents had asthma, and those living in houses with smokers. Wheeze prevalence was positively associated with levels of both acid (odds ratio [OR] = 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.83) and NO2 (OR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.08-2.19) in boys. We conclude, based on this cross-sectional assessment of questionnaire responses, that current levels of ambient air pollution in Southern California may be associated with effects on schoolchildren's respiratory morbidity as assessed by questionnaire.

Topics: Acids; Air Pollutants; Asthma; Bronchitis; California; Child; Chronic Disease; Cohort Studies; Cough; Female; Humans; Male; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Respiratory Sounds; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Surveys and Questionnaires

To identify characteristics associated with respiratory symptoms due to an episode of air pollution.. Mail survey.. In October 1992, the population of the city of Winnipeg was exposed to elevated levels of particulate matter (total and <10 microm size), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds due to smoke from adjacent fields where farmers were burning agricultural residue (straw and stubble).. We surveyed 428 participants in the ongoing Lung Health Study (35 to 64 years old, both sexes) with mild to moderate airways obstruction (mean FEV1 percent predicted 73+/-12%), and a high level of airways hyperreactivity (23% of men and 37% of women).. While 37% of subjects were not bothered by smoke at all, 42% reported that symptoms (cough, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath) developed or became worse due to the air pollution episode and 20% reported that they had breathing trouble. Those with symptoms were more likely to be female than male and were more likely to be ex-smokers than smokers. Subjects with asthma and chronic bronchitis were also more likely affected. The degree of airways obstruction and the level of bronchial hyperresponsiveness were not associated with increased susceptibility.. Gender, smoking habit, and respiratory symptoms but not bronchial hyperresponsiveness or the degree of airways obstruction are factors influencing susceptibility to symptoms due to air pollution in adult smokers and former smokers.

Topics: Adult; Agriculture; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Airway Obstruction; Asthma; Bronchial Hyperreactivity; Bronchitis; Carbon Monoxide; Chest Pain; Chronic Disease; Cough; Disease Susceptibility; Dyspnea; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Male; Manitoba; Middle Aged; Nitrogen Dioxide; Organic Chemicals; Respiration; Respiratory Sounds; Sex Factors; Smoke; Smoking

To investigate if the population living along streets with high traffic density has a higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms.. A sample of 673 adults and 106 children (0-15 years), living along busy traffic streets in the city of Haarlem was compared with a control sample of 812 adults and 185 children living along quiet streets. Exposed and control streets were selected on the basis of model calculations of NO2 concentrations. A postal questionnaire containing questions about respiratory symptoms and several potential confounders was used to collect information from the study subjects.. After adjustment for potential confounders, children living along busy streets were found to have a higher prevalence of most respiratory symptoms than children living along quiet streets. Adjusted odds ratios were significant for wheeze and for respiratory medication used. Risk ratios were higher for girls than for boys, with significant adjusted odds ratios between 2.9 and 15.8 for girls. In adults, only mild dyspnoea was more often reported by subjects living along streets with high traffic density.. The results suggest that living along busy streets increases the risk of developing chronic respiratory symptoms in children.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Environmental Exposure; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Models, Theoretical; Netherlands; Nitrogen Dioxide; Odds Ratio; Prevalence; Respiration Disorders; Vehicle Emissions

The effects of low levels of air pollution and weather conditions on the number of patients admitted to hospitals for exacerbation of chronic bronchitis or emphysema (n = 2807) was studied in Helsinki during a 3-year period, 1987-1989. The daily number of admissions via the emergency room was significantly associated with prevailing levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Poisson regressions controlled for weather, season, time trends, and day of the week, whereas the total number of admissions (via the emergency room and otherwise) was not significantly associated with these pollutants. The effect of SO2 was observed only among those under 65 years old; a significant peak of admissions was seen during the same day (RR, 1.31 for a 2.7-fold increase in SO2; 95% CI, 1.01-1.70; P = 0.039), and another after a 3-day lag (RR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.05-1.86; P = 0.021). The effect of NO2 was strongest after a 6-day lag and was significant only among those over 64 years old (RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.03-1.66; P = 0.022). The average of mean 24-hr concentrations of NO2 was 39 micrograms/m3 (0.021 ppm) and that for SO2 was 19 micrograms/m3 (0.0067 ppm). No relationship was found between admissions and the concentrations of total suspended particulates (TSP) or ozone (O3), the temperature, or the relative humidity. However, the number of admissions among those over 64 years of age was significantly lower, irrespective of temperature, during the summer than during other seasons. The mean daily concentration of O3 was fairly low (22 micrograms/m3 or 0.011 ppm), but that of TSP was high, 76 micrograms/m3. the mean temperature was low, +4.7 degrees C. These results suggest that SO2 and NO2 concentrations lower than those given as guidelines in many countries, and lower than previously shown, may increase the incidence of symptoms in some patients with chronic bronchitis or emphysema.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Air Pollution; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Confidence Intervals; Emergencies; Finland; Hospitalization; Humans; Incidence; Longitudinal Studies; Middle Aged; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Pulmonary Emphysema; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Seasons; Sulfur Dioxide; Weather

The biologic impact of consecutive exposures to two environmental pollutants was examined in mice exposed to silica crystals (SI) by intratracheal (IT) injection followed by an inhalation exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). C57Bl/6 mice received an IT injection of 2 mg SI or sterile saline (SAL) followed by a 2-h inhalation exposure to NO2 at 20 ppm either within 2 h of or 24 h after SI instillation. During acute inflammation (d 3 postsilica), mice exposed to NO2 at either time showed a dramatic and significant reduction in the number of lavaged alveolar neutrophils (PMN) when compared to silica/air-exposed mice. Animals exposed to NO2 24 h after silica also evidenced significant decreases in levels of lavage albumin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 3 d after silica, as well as significant decreases in hydroxyproline content of the lung 30 and 60 d postsilica injection when compared to silica/air-exposed animals. NO2 administration 24 h after silica appeared to shift the appearance of PMN in the lung from d 3 to d 14, but did not otherwise alter chronic cellular inflammation. These data suggest that the marked neutrophil response and collagen deposition induced by SI can be modulated by NO2 exposure and that the time of oxidant gas exposure after silica administration is critical to this modulation.

Topics: Acute Disease; Air Pollutants; Albumins; Animals; Biomarkers; Chronic Disease; Collagen; Drug Interactions; Female; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Lung; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neutrophils; Nitrogen Dioxide; Oxidants; Pneumonia; Proteins; Pulmonary Alveoli; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Silicon Dioxide; Time Factors

The first stage of a 2-year survey of respiratory morbidity in primary school children was conducted in two districts of Hong Kong in April/May 1989. One group (2009) of children was from Kwai Tsing District, which had high levels of exhaust emission from factories. The other group (1837) was from Southern District where atmospheric pollution was considered to be relatively low. After adjustment for gender, age, socioeconomic factors, child smoking and exposure to parental smoking, the prevalence ratios of sore throat, evening cough, cough for more than 3 months, morning phlegm and wheezing were found to be significantly higher in Kwai Tsing. The difference between the districts is likely to be related to the environmental air quality. The study, which is continuing, will provide the basis for an evaluation of the impact of new low sulphur fuel regulations introduced in July 1990.

Topics: Acute Disease; Air Pollution; Analysis of Variance; Child; Chronic Disease; Female; Geography; Hong Kong; Humans; Male; Morbidity; Nitrogen Dioxide; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Smoking; Socioeconomic Factors; Sulfur Dioxide; Urban Population

As part of a series of epidemiologic studies of the mortality patterns of railroad workers, various air contaminants were measured to characterize the workers' current exposures to diesel exhaust. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is a constituent of diesel exhaust, was examined as one possible marker of diesel exposure. An adaptation of the Palmes personal passive sampler was used to measure the NO2 exposures of 477 U.S. railroad workers at four railroads. The range of NO2 exposures expressed as the arithmetic average +/- two standard errors for the five career job groups were as follows: signal maintainers, 16-24 parts per billion (ppb); clerks/dispatchers/station agents, 23-43 ppb; engineers/firers, 26-38 ppb; brakers/conductors, 50-74 ppb; and locomotive shop workers, 95-127 ppb. Variations among railroads and across seasons were not significant for most job groups.

Topics: Air Pollutants, Occupational; Chronic Disease; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Nitrogen Dioxide; Railroads; Respiration Disorders

Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Airway Resistance; Animals; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Dust; Humans; Maximum Allowable Concentration; Nitrates; Nitrogen Dioxide; Particle Size; Smog; Sulfates; Sulfur Dioxide

The examination involved 55 men exposed to NH3, 60 exposed to NO2 and NH3 and 98 controls. Symptoms of chronic cough and (or) expectoration were found in 8 controls and 18 exposed workers. Significant differences refer only to smokers. Bronchial overreactivity was found in 23.5% controls and in 21.1% of those exposed. The authors conclude that in smokers exposed to NO2 and NH3 chronic bronchitis prevalence is greater whereas occupational exposure did not contribute to an increased number of those suffering from bronchial overreactivity.

Topics: Adult; Air Pollutants; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Ammonia; Bronchi; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Humans; Male; Nitrogen; Nitrogen Dioxide; Occupational Diseases; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Smoking

Air pollution referable to increased ambient levels of sulfur dioxide and suspended particulates is associated with increased episodes of acute bronchitis and is also causally related to some cases of chronic bronchitis. Oxidant air pollution is associated with abnormalities of pulmonary function in children and is a major contributory factor in COP, especially bronchitis, in some areas of the United States. The relationship of nitrogen dioxide atmospheric contamination to COPD is still controversial. In our opinion, the epidemiologic studies conducted to date have been inadequate and further elucidation is indicated. Cadmium fumes and compounds have been found to be instrumental in the development of some cases of chronic bronchitis and emphysema in Sweden. This association is unproved in the United States and warrants a thorough clinical and epidemiologic evaluation.

Topics: Air Pollutants; Cadmium; Carbon Monoxide; Chlorine; Chronic Disease; Humans; Lung; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Sulfur Dioxide

Topics: Animals; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Humans; Lung; Nitrogen Dioxide; Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; Rabbits; Respiratory Function Tests; Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio

Topics: Aged; Agricultural Workers' Diseases; Blood; Carbon Dioxide; Chronic Disease; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lung Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Nitrogen Dioxide; Oxygen; Prednisone; Prognosis; Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; Radiography; Silo Filler's Disease; Spirometry; Vital Capacity

Topics: Animals; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Cricetinae; Disease Models, Animal; Lung; Lung Diseases; Nitrogen Dioxide; Papain; Pneumonia; Pulmonary Emphysema; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Trachea

Topics: Adult; Aged; Atropine; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Drug Antagonism; Histamine Release; Humans; Male; Metaproterenol; Middle Aged; Nitrogen Dioxide; Pyrrolidines; Respiration; Smoking

Topics: Airway Resistance; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Humans; Nitrogen Dioxide; Pulmonary Ventilation; Respiration; Respiratory Function Tests