RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Air pollution and the development of asthma from birth until young adulthood JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 2000147 DO 10.1183/13993003.00147-2020 VO 56 IS 1 A1 Ulrike Gehring A1 Alet H. Wijga A1 Gerard H. Koppelman A1 Judith M. Vonk A1 Henriette A. Smit A1 Bert Brunekreef YR 2020 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/56/1/2000147.abstract AB Background Air pollution is associated with asthma development in children and adults, but the impact on asthma development during the transition from adolescence to adulthood is unclear. Adult studies lack historical exposures and consequently cannot assess the relevance of exposure during different periods of life. We assessed the relevance of early-life and more recent air pollution exposure for asthma development from birth until early adulthood.Methods We used data of 3687 participants of the prospective Dutch PIAMA (Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy) birth cohort and linked asthma incidence until age 20 years to estimated concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter with a diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5), <10 μm (PM10), and 2.5–10 μm, and PM2.5 absorbance (“soot”) at the residential address. We assessed overall and age-specific associations with air pollution exposure with discrete time-hazard models, adjusting for potential confounders.Results Overall, we found higher incidence of asthma until the age of 20 years with higher exposure to all pollutants at the birth address (adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) ranging from 1.09 (1.01–1.18) for PM10 to 1.20 (1.10–1.32) for NO2) per interquartile range increase) that were rather persistent with age. Similar associations were observed with more recent exposure defined as exposure at the current home address. In two-pollutant models with particulate matter, associations with NO2 persisted.Conclusions Exposure to air pollution, especially from motorised traffic, early in life may have long-term consequences for asthma development, as it is associated with an increased risk of developing asthma through childhood and adolescence into early adulthood.Early-life exposure to air pollution, especially from motorised traffic, may have long-term consequences for asthma development, as it is associated with an increased risk of developing asthma through childhood and adolescence into early adulthood https://bit.ly/39uZHVH