International Journal of Epidemiology 2000;29:549-557
© International Epidemiological Association 2000
Acute effects of low levels of ambient ozone on peak expiratory flow rate in a cohort of Australian children
a Epidemiology Unit, South Western Sydney Area Health Service, Sydney, Australia.
b Formerly at: Western Sector Public Health Unit, Western Sydney Area Health Service, Sydney, Australia.
c School of Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
d Formerly at: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
e National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
f Western Sector Public Health Unit, Western Sydney Area Health Service, Sydney, Australia.
g Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Reprint requests to: Dr Bin Jalaludin, Epidemiology Unit, Locked Mail Bag 7017, Liverpool BC NSW 1871, Australia. E-mail: b.jalaludin{at}unsw.edu.au
Background We enrolled a cohort of primary schoolchildren with a history of wheeze (n = 148) in an 11-month longitudinal study to examine the relationship between ambient ozone concentrations and peak expiratory flow rate.
Methods Enrolled children recorded peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) twice daily. We obtained air pollution, meteorological and pollen data. In all, 125 children remained in the final analysis.
Results We found a significant negative association between daily mean deviation in PEFR and same-day mean daytime ozone concentration (ß-coefficient = 0.88; P = 0.04) after adjusting for co-pollutants, time trend, meteorological variables, pollen count and Alternaria count. The association was stronger in a subgroup of children with bronchial hyperreactivity and a doctor diagnosis of asthma (ß-coefficient = –2.61; P = 0.001). There was no significant association between PEFR and same-day daily daytime maximum ozone concentration. We also demonstrated a dose-response relationship with mean daytime ozone concentration.
Conclusions Moderate levels of ambient ozone have an adverse health effect on children with a history of wheezing, and this effect is larger in children with bronchial hyperreactivity and a doctor diagnosis of asthma.
Keywords Asthma, air pollution, ambient ozone, children, lung function, peak expiratory flow rate, bronchial hyperresponsiveness
Accepted 29 September 1999
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