Impact of ambient air pollution and socio-environmental factors on the health of children younger than 5 years in India: a population-based analysisResearch in context
Summary: Background: Ambient air pollution and household environmental factors affect child health, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to investigate the association between ambient air pollution (PM2·5) levels, socio-environmental factors (including household...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772368223001889 |
| _version_ | 1797422488962990080 |
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| author | Paul E. George Nandan Thakkar Sandul Yasobant Deepak Saxena Jay Shah |
| author_facet | Paul E. George Nandan Thakkar Sandul Yasobant Deepak Saxena Jay Shah |
| author_sort | Paul E. George |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Background: Ambient air pollution and household environmental factors affect child health, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to investigate the association between ambient air pollution (PM2·5) levels, socio-environmental factors (including household wealth, housing quality measures, smoking status), and the occurrence of respiratory illness in Indian children. Methods: In this retrospective and observational study, we analysed data from India's National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–2021) combined with NASA's Global Annual PM2·5 Grids database. Bivariate and multivariable generalized additive models were employed to examine associations between key social-environmental factors and respiratory illness in children younger than 5 years. Findings: We analysed data from 224,214 children younger than 5 years, representing 165,561 families from 29,757 geographic clusters. Our results showed extremely high annual PM2·5 levels throughout India (median 63·4·g/m3, IQR 41·9–81·6), with higher exposure for rural and impoverished families. In bivariate analyses, PM2·5 was significantly associated with reported respiratory illness (p < 0·001). Using generalized additive models and after accounting for key social and environmental factors, a monotonic increasing and non-linear relationship was observed between PM2·5 and respiratory illness (p < 0·001), with increased likelihood of illness observed even at values near and below India's National Ambient Air Quality Standards of 40 μg/m3. Interpretation: The study highlights the significant association of social-environmental conditions with health outcomes among young children in India. Efforts specifically targeting ambient air pollution and child health during monsoon season could have significant health benefits among this population and help achieve the goal of ending preventable deaths of children younger than 5 years. Funding: National Institutes of Health (NIH T-32-HL139443-3). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:33:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3524c0e300f04cbba512ccb212905b14 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2772-3682 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:33:02Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia |
| spelling | doaj.art-3524c0e300f04cbba512ccb212905b142023-12-03T05:43:48ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia2772-36822024-01-0120100328Impact of ambient air pollution and socio-environmental factors on the health of children younger than 5 years in India: a population-based analysisResearch in contextPaul E. George0Nandan Thakkar1Sandul Yasobant2Deepak Saxena3Jay Shah4Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA; Corresponding author. Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USAIndian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India; School of Epidemiology & Public Health, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, IndiaIndian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India; School of Epidemiology & Public Health, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, IndiaEmory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USASummary: Background: Ambient air pollution and household environmental factors affect child health, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to investigate the association between ambient air pollution (PM2·5) levels, socio-environmental factors (including household wealth, housing quality measures, smoking status), and the occurrence of respiratory illness in Indian children. Methods: In this retrospective and observational study, we analysed data from India's National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–2021) combined with NASA's Global Annual PM2·5 Grids database. Bivariate and multivariable generalized additive models were employed to examine associations between key social-environmental factors and respiratory illness in children younger than 5 years. Findings: We analysed data from 224,214 children younger than 5 years, representing 165,561 families from 29,757 geographic clusters. Our results showed extremely high annual PM2·5 levels throughout India (median 63·4·g/m3, IQR 41·9–81·6), with higher exposure for rural and impoverished families. In bivariate analyses, PM2·5 was significantly associated with reported respiratory illness (p < 0·001). Using generalized additive models and after accounting for key social and environmental factors, a monotonic increasing and non-linear relationship was observed between PM2·5 and respiratory illness (p < 0·001), with increased likelihood of illness observed even at values near and below India's National Ambient Air Quality Standards of 40 μg/m3. Interpretation: The study highlights the significant association of social-environmental conditions with health outcomes among young children in India. Efforts specifically targeting ambient air pollution and child health during monsoon season could have significant health benefits among this population and help achieve the goal of ending preventable deaths of children younger than 5 years. Funding: National Institutes of Health (NIH T-32-HL139443-3).http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772368223001889IndiaAir pollutionChildUnder-5Social determinants of healthEnvironmental determinants of health |
| spellingShingle | Paul E. George Nandan Thakkar Sandul Yasobant Deepak Saxena Jay Shah Impact of ambient air pollution and socio-environmental factors on the health of children younger than 5 years in India: a population-based analysisResearch in context The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia India Air pollution Child Under-5 Social determinants of health Environmental determinants of health |
| title | Impact of ambient air pollution and socio-environmental factors on the health of children younger than 5 years in India: a population-based analysisResearch in context |
| title_full | Impact of ambient air pollution and socio-environmental factors on the health of children younger than 5 years in India: a population-based analysisResearch in context |
| title_fullStr | Impact of ambient air pollution and socio-environmental factors on the health of children younger than 5 years in India: a population-based analysisResearch in context |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of ambient air pollution and socio-environmental factors on the health of children younger than 5 years in India: a population-based analysisResearch in context |
| title_short | Impact of ambient air pollution and socio-environmental factors on the health of children younger than 5 years in India: a population-based analysisResearch in context |
| title_sort | impact of ambient air pollution and socio environmental factors on the health of children younger than 5 years in india a population based analysisresearch in context |
| topic | India Air pollution Child Under-5 Social determinants of health Environmental determinants of health |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772368223001889 |
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