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RESPIRATORY DAMAGE IN CHILDREN EXPOSED TO URBAN POLLUTION
Citation:
CalderonGarciduenas, L., A. MoraTiscareno, L. A. Fordham, G. Valencia, A. VillarrealCalderon, M. J. Hazucha, C. Chung, A. Rodriguez, D. Variakojis, L. Flores Camacho, R. Paredes, AND A. AntunezSolis. RESPIRATORY DAMAGE IN CHILDREN EXPOSED TO URBAN POLLUTION. PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY. Alan R Liss, Inc, New York, NY, 36(2):148-161, (2003).
Impact/Purpose:
To analyze the association between exposures to urban air pollution and respiratory damage
Description:
Southwest Metropolitan Mexico City (SWMMC) children are chronically exposed to complex mixtures of air pollutants. In a cross-sectional arm of our study, we investigated the association between exposure to SWMMC atmosphere and nasal abnormalities, hyperinflation, and interstitial markings assessed by chest X-rays, lung function changes, several serum cytokines, and endothelin-1 in 174 children aged 5-17 years vs. 27 control children residents in low-polluted areas. Control children had no nasal lesions, and only one child showed an abnormal chest X-ray. SWMMC children exhibited nasal abnormalities (22%), hyperinflation (67%), interstitial markings (49%), and a mild restrictive pattern by spirometry (10%). Interstitial markings were associated with a decrease in predicted values of FEF(25-75), FEF(75), and the FEV(1)/FVC ratio. Boys had a higher probability of developing interstitial markings with age (P = 0.004). Blood smear findings included toxic granulations in neutrophils and schistocytes. SWMMC children had more serum IL10 and IL6 and less IL8 than controls. In a longitudinal arm of our study, we found a significant seasonal drop in FVC and FEV(1) associated with a 6-month period of high ozone and PM(10) levels. Our data strongly suggest that a lifelong exposure to urban air pollution causes respiratory damage in children. Moreover, a cytokine network becomes imbalanced, with a shift towards upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Consequently, these children are potentially at risk for developing chronic lung disease and other systemic effects later in life. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.