High particulate matter levels were positively associated with bronchiolitis. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Air Pollution Is Associated with Bronchiolitis Hospitalization in Southern Israel.
Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2017 Aug 8. Epub 2017 Aug 8. PMID: 28787174
Maayan Yitshak-Sade
BACKGROUND: Several studies have found higher risks for childhood respiratory illness, associated with exposure to Particulate Matter<10µm[PM10] and<2.5µm in diameter[PM2.5] and gaseous pollution. We analyzed the association between air pollution and hospitalizations due to bronchiolitis, an obstructive pulmonary disorder, commonly caused by RSV infant infection.
METHODS: Data were obtained from a local tertiary medical center providing services for a population of 700,000 comprising two ethnic groups: predominantly urban Jews (80%) and rural Bedouin-Arabs. The latter group includes 40% residing in unrecognized villages in a temporary dwelling. We included all infants admitted with bronchiolitis between 2003-2013. Daily PM estimates were obtained from a satellite based model incorporating daily remote sensing data and assigned to the family residence locality. Other air pollutants and meteorological parameters were obtained from a local monitoring site. We used case crossover models with adjustment for temperature.
RESULTS: We identified 4,069 Bronchiolitis hospitalizations (3,889 children) with 55.3% being Bedouin-Arabs of whom 30% resided in temporary dwelling. An increase in IQR of average weekly air pollutants was associated with an increased odds of bronchiolitis (OR [95%CI]): PM10 (1.06[1.02;1.09]), PM2.5 (1.04[1.02;1.06]) and NO2 (1.36[1.12;1.65]). Higher effect-estimates for PM were observed among Bedouin-Arabs residing in temporary dwellings (1.14[1.01; 1.30] and 1.07[1.01; 1.15]) compared to Jewish (1.05[0.99; 1.11] and 1.03[1.01; 1.07]) and other Bedouin-Arabs (1.05[1.01; 1.10] and 1.03[1.01; 1.07]), and among males (1.11[1.06;1.16] and 1.06[1.03;1.09]) compared to females (0.99[0.94;1.05] and 1.01[0.97;1.04]).
CONCLUSIONS: High PM levels were positively associated with bronchiolitis. The stronger associations among Bedouin Arabs may be related to higher pollution infiltration and exposure in temporary dwellings residents.