Ambient wood smoke, traffic pollution and adult asthma prevalence and severity.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

The impact of ambient wood smoke and traffic-related air pollution on adult asthma has not been well studied. This paper aims to investigate associations between exposure to ambient wood smoke, traffic-related air pollution and current asthma/asthma severity in middle age, and whether any associations are modified by atopic status.

METHODS:

Using data from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study, associations between ambient wood smoke and two indices of traffic-related air pollution (frequency of heavy vehicles near the home and frequency of intense traffic noise) and current asthma/asthma severity were investigated. Unconditional logistic regression to examine current asthma and ordinal logistic regression to examine asthma severity was used.

RESULTS:

For asthmatics, both exposure to ambient wood smoke (odds ratio 1.11; 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.20) and being frequently exposed to heavy vehicles (odds ratio 1.80; 95% confidence interval 1.09-2.96) were associated with increased asthma severity. Neither association varied by atopic status.

CONCLUSIONS:

In middle-aged adults, ambient wood smoke and traffic pollution were associated with increased asthma severity. These findings suggest that avoiding or limiting exposure to traffic pollution and wood smoke may help to reduce asthma. Future studies to replicate this finding are recommended and should examine specific biological mechanisms for this effect.

• Authors: D Son Bui, John A Burgess, Melanie C Matheson, Bircan Erbas, Jennifer Perret, Stephen Morrison, Graham G Giles, John L Hopper, Paul S Thomas, James Markos, Michael J Abramson, E Haydn Walters, Shyamali C Dharmage
• Journal: Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) (Respirology) Vol. 18 Issue 7 Pg. 1101-7 (Oct 2013) ISSN: 1440-1843 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 23627489 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2013 The Authors. Respirology © 2013 Asian Pacific Society of Respirology.

Chemical References

• Air Pollutants
• Particulate Matter
• Smoke
• Vehicle Emissions

Topics

• Adult
• Air Pollutants (adverse effects)
• Asthma (epidemiology)
• Environmental Exposure (adverse effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Particulate Matter (adverse effects)
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• Severity of Illness Index
• Smoke (adverse effects)
• Tasmania (epidemiology)
• Vehicle Emissions
• Wood (adverse effects)