The influence of large-scale airborne particle decline and traffic-related exposure on children's lung function

Abstract

Between 1991 and 2000, ambient air pollution in East Germany changed to resemble West German pollution levels: The concentration of total suspended particles (TSPs) decreased on a broad scale while traffic increased. During that time, we analyzed total lung capacity (TLC) and airway resistance (Raw) of East and West German children. We tested children 5-7 years of age (n = 2.574) with cooperation-independent body plethysmography in repeated cress sections. We used random-effect models to determine the mutually adjusted association between lung function and short-term and chronic particle exposure and its interaction with living near a busy road. Annual averages of TSPs declined from 77 to 44 μg/m3; averages on the day of investigation declined from 133 to 30 μg/ m3. Differences in lung function between East and West German children vanished during the investigation time. The association of TSPs with Raw and TLC was stronger in children living > 50 m away from busy road. East German children from this group had an Raw 2.5% higher [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.0-5.1%] per 40-μg/m3 increase of daily TSP averages. TLC decreased by 6.2% (95% CI, 0.04-11.6%) per 40-μg/m3 increase in annual mean TSPs, and this effect was equally pronounced in East and West Germany. TSP exposure decreased on a broad scale between 1991 and 2000. Lower concentrations of TSPs were associated with better measures of lung function in 6-year-old children. For children living near busy roads, this effect was diminished.