PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - F. Horak, Jr
AU  - M. Studnicka
AU  - C. Gartner
AU  - J.D. Spengler
AU  - E. Tauber
AU  - R. Urbanek
AU  - A. Veiter
AU  - T. Frischer
TI  - Particulate matter and lung function growth in children: a 3-yr follow-up study in Austrian schoolchildren
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.02.00512001
DP  - 2002 May 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 838--845
VI  - 19
IP  - 5
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/19/5/838.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/19/5/838.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2002 May 01; 19
AB  - The effects of particulate matter <10 µm in diameter (PM10) and other air pollutants on lung function were assessed in 975 schoolchildren, from eight communities in Lower Austria between 1994–1997. In each community, air pollution data were collected. Spirometry was performed twice a year. PM10 concentration (mean concentration between two subsequent lung-function measures in spring and autumn (summer interval) or between autumn and spring (winter interval)) showed a mean value of 17.36 µg·m−3 in the summer interval and 21.03 µg·m−3 in the winter interval. A slower increase in the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and midexpiratory flow between 25 and 75% of the forced vital capacity (MEF25–75) with age in children exposed to higher summer PM10 was observed in the 3-yr study period. After adjusting for potential confounders (sex, atopy, passive smoking, initial height, height difference, site, initial lung function) an increase of summer PM10 by 10 µg·m−3 was associated with a decrease in FEV1 growth of 84 mL·yr−1 and 329 mL·s−1·yr−1 for MEF25–75. Nitrogen dioxide and ozone also showed a negative effect on lung-function growth, confirming previous work. The authors concluded that long-term exposure to particulate matter <10 µm in diameter had a significant negative effect on lung-function proxy for the development of large (forced expiratory volume in one second) and small (midexpiratory flow between 25 and 75% of the forced vital capacity) airways, respectively, with strong evidence for a further effect of ozone and nitrogen dioxide on the development of forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second.