Association between the Concentration and the Elemental Composition of Outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Respiratory Diseases in Schoolchildren: A Multicenter Study in the Mediterranean Area
<b>A</b><b>bstract: </b>Exposure to outdoor air pollution has been shown to increase asthma symptoms. We assessed the potential role of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) on respiratory condition in schoolchildren in the sou...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/12/1290 |
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| author | Christopher Zammit David Bilocca Silvia Ruggieri Gaspare Drago Cinzia Perrino Silvia Canepari Martin Balzan Stephen Montefort Giovanni Viegi Fabio Cibella on behalf of the RESPIRA Collaborative Project Group |
| author_facet | Christopher Zammit David Bilocca Silvia Ruggieri Gaspare Drago Cinzia Perrino Silvia Canepari Martin Balzan Stephen Montefort Giovanni Viegi Fabio Cibella on behalf of the RESPIRA Collaborative Project Group |
| author_sort | Christopher Zammit |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>A</b><b>bstract: </b>Exposure to outdoor air pollution has been shown to increase asthma symptoms. We assessed the potential role of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) on respiratory condition in schoolchildren in the south Mediterranean area. A total of 2400 children aged 11–14 years were recruited, and data on their symptoms were collected through an ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood)-based questionnaire. Outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> was collected for 48 consecutive hours in the schoolyards of their schools and selected residential outdoor areas. The levels of PM<sub>2.5</sub> were measured, along with its elemental composition. The incidence of an acute respiratory illness within the first 2 years of life was higher amongst Sicilian children when compared to Maltese children (29.7% vs. 13.5% respectively, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Malta had a significantly higher prevalence of doctor‐diagnosed asthma, when compared to Sicily (18.0% Malta vs. 7.5% Sicily, <i>p</i> <0.0001). Similarly, current asthma (7.8% vs. 2.9%, <i>p</i> < 0.0001) and use of asthma medication in the last 12 months (12.1% vs. 4.9%, <i>p</i> < 0.0001) were more frequent amongst Maltese children. Total median PM<sub>2.5</sub> was 12.9 μg/m<sup>3</sup> in Sicily and 17.9 μg/m<sup>3</sup> in Malta. PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels were highest in the Maltese urban town of Hamrun (23.6 μg/m<sup>3</sup>), while lowest in the rural Sicilian town of Niscemi (10.9 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, <i>p </i>< 0.0001). Hamrun also exhibited the highest levels of nickel, vanadium, lead, zinc, antimony, and manganese, whilst the Sicilian city of Gela had the highest levels of cadmium, and the highest level of PM<sub>2.5</sub> when compared to rural Sicily. Elevated levels of PM<sub>2.5</sub> were positively associated with the prevalence of doctor diagnosed asthma (odds ratio (OR) 1.05), current asthma (OR 1.06), and use of asthma medication (OR 1.06). All elements in PM<sub>2.5</sub> showed increased OR for doctor diagnosed asthma, while higher concentrations of Cd and Mn were associated with higher prevalence of rhinitis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:27:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba80bc6c0d944bfca1d11cf48ebbe67a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:27:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
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| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba80bc6c0d944bfca1d11cf48ebbe67a2023-11-20T22:52:42ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-11-011112129010.3390/atmos11121290Association between the Concentration and the Elemental Composition of Outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Respiratory Diseases in Schoolchildren: A Multicenter Study in the Mediterranean AreaChristopher Zammit0David Bilocca1Silvia Ruggieri2Gaspare Drago3Cinzia Perrino4Silvia Canepari5Martin Balzan6Stephen Montefort7Giovanni Viegi8Fabio Cibella9on behalf of the RESPIRA Collaborative Project GroupDepartment of Medicine, University of Malta, 2080 Msida, MSD, MaltaDepartment of Medicine, University of Malta, 2080 Msida, MSD, MaltaNational Research Council of Italy, Institute Biomedical Research and Innovation, 90146 Palermo, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy, Institute Biomedical Research and Innovation, 90146 Palermo, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, 00015 Monterotondo, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, University of Malta, 2080 Msida, MSD, MaltaDepartment of Medicine, University of Malta, 2080 Msida, MSD, MaltaNational Research Council of Italy, Institute Biomedical Research and Innovation, 90146 Palermo, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy, Institute Biomedical Research and Innovation, 90146 Palermo, Italy<b>A</b><b>bstract: </b>Exposure to outdoor air pollution has been shown to increase asthma symptoms. We assessed the potential role of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) on respiratory condition in schoolchildren in the south Mediterranean area. A total of 2400 children aged 11–14 years were recruited, and data on their symptoms were collected through an ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood)-based questionnaire. Outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> was collected for 48 consecutive hours in the schoolyards of their schools and selected residential outdoor areas. The levels of PM<sub>2.5</sub> were measured, along with its elemental composition. The incidence of an acute respiratory illness within the first 2 years of life was higher amongst Sicilian children when compared to Maltese children (29.7% vs. 13.5% respectively, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Malta had a significantly higher prevalence of doctor‐diagnosed asthma, when compared to Sicily (18.0% Malta vs. 7.5% Sicily, <i>p</i> <0.0001). Similarly, current asthma (7.8% vs. 2.9%, <i>p</i> < 0.0001) and use of asthma medication in the last 12 months (12.1% vs. 4.9%, <i>p</i> < 0.0001) were more frequent amongst Maltese children. Total median PM<sub>2.5</sub> was 12.9 μg/m<sup>3</sup> in Sicily and 17.9 μg/m<sup>3</sup> in Malta. PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels were highest in the Maltese urban town of Hamrun (23.6 μg/m<sup>3</sup>), while lowest in the rural Sicilian town of Niscemi (10.9 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, <i>p </i>< 0.0001). Hamrun also exhibited the highest levels of nickel, vanadium, lead, zinc, antimony, and manganese, whilst the Sicilian city of Gela had the highest levels of cadmium, and the highest level of PM<sub>2.5</sub> when compared to rural Sicily. Elevated levels of PM<sub>2.5</sub> were positively associated with the prevalence of doctor diagnosed asthma (odds ratio (OR) 1.05), current asthma (OR 1.06), and use of asthma medication (OR 1.06). All elements in PM<sub>2.5</sub> showed increased OR for doctor diagnosed asthma, while higher concentrations of Cd and Mn were associated with higher prevalence of rhinitis.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/12/1290asthmaPM2.5outdoor air qualitygravimetricrespiratory diseasesconcentration and elemental composition of outdoor PM2.5 |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Zammit David Bilocca Silvia Ruggieri Gaspare Drago Cinzia Perrino Silvia Canepari Martin Balzan Stephen Montefort Giovanni Viegi Fabio Cibella on behalf of the RESPIRA Collaborative Project Group Association between the Concentration and the Elemental Composition of Outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Respiratory Diseases in Schoolchildren: A Multicenter Study in the Mediterranean Area Atmosphere asthma PM2.5 outdoor air quality gravimetric respiratory diseases concentration and elemental composition of outdoor PM2.5 |
| title | Association between the Concentration and the Elemental Composition of Outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Respiratory Diseases in Schoolchildren: A Multicenter Study in the Mediterranean Area |
| title_full | Association between the Concentration and the Elemental Composition of Outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Respiratory Diseases in Schoolchildren: A Multicenter Study in the Mediterranean Area |
| title_fullStr | Association between the Concentration and the Elemental Composition of Outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Respiratory Diseases in Schoolchildren: A Multicenter Study in the Mediterranean Area |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between the Concentration and the Elemental Composition of Outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Respiratory Diseases in Schoolchildren: A Multicenter Study in the Mediterranean Area |
| title_short | Association between the Concentration and the Elemental Composition of Outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Respiratory Diseases in Schoolchildren: A Multicenter Study in the Mediterranean Area |
| title_sort | association between the concentration and the elemental composition of outdoor pm sub 2 5 sub and respiratory diseases in schoolchildren a multicenter study in the mediterranean area |
| topic | asthma PM2.5 outdoor air quality gravimetric respiratory diseases concentration and elemental composition of outdoor PM2.5 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/12/1290 |
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