Lee Jong-Tae, Son Ji-Young, Cho Yong-Sung
Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Hanyang University, Hanyang University, Haengdang-dong 17, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, Republic of Korea.
Sci Total Environ. 2007 Oct 15;385(1-3):28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.07.005. Epub 2007 Aug 10.
There is increasing concern that airborne particles are critical risk factors for adverse health conditions in susceptible populations. The objective of this panel study is to investigate an association between particulate matter and the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in the elderly and to compare estimated risks using PM10 or PM2.5 levels as a measure of exposure. During a 2-year longitudinal follow-up study, we contacted subjects living in an asylum for the elderly, provided them with a mini-Wright peak flow meter, and instructed to record all the flow readings, any respiratory symptoms, passive smoking activity, and hours spent outdoors for that given day. Daily levels of particulate matter were measured by two separate mini-volume air samplers (for PM10 and PM2.5) placed on the rooftop of the two-story residence asylum building. In our statistical models, we assumed that the expected response varied linearly for each participant with a slope and intercept that depended on fixed or time-varying covariates using a mixed linear model. The daily mean levels of PM10 and PM2.5 were 78 microg/m3 and 56 microg/m3, respectively. For every 10 microg/m3 increase in PM10 and PM2.5 levels, there was an estimated PEFR change of -0.39 l/min (95% CI, -0.63, -0.14) and -0.54 l/min (95% CI, -0.89, -0.19), respectively. These data also suggest that fine particles have a more adverse respiratory health impact for sensitive individuals such as the elderly and that more research and control strategies should focus on the smaller particles associated with air pollution.
人们越来越担心空气中的颗粒物是易感人群健康状况不佳的关键风险因素。本队列研究的目的是调查老年人中颗粒物与呼气峰值流速（PEFR）之间的关联，并比较以PM10或PM2.5水平作为暴露指标时的估计风险。在一项为期2年的纵向随访研究中，我们联系了住在老年庇护所的受试者，为他们提供了一个小型赖特峰值流量计，并指示他们记录当天所有的流速读数、任何呼吸道症状、被动吸烟活动以及在户外度过的时间。通过放置在两层住宅庇护所建筑屋顶的两个独立的小型空气采样器（分别用于测量PM10和PM2.5）来测量每日颗粒物水平。在我们的统计模型中，我们假设每个参与者的预期反应呈线性变化，其斜率和截距取决于使用混合线性模型的固定或随时间变化的协变量。PM10和PM2.5的每日平均水平分别为78微克/立方米和56微克/立方米。PM10和PM2.5水平每增加10微克/立方米，估计的PEFR变化分别为-0.39升/分钟（95%CI，-0.63，-0.14）和-0.54升/分钟（95%CI，-0.89，-0.19）。这些数据还表明，细颗粒物对老年人等敏感个体的呼吸道健康影响更大，更多的研究和控制策略应关注与空气污染相关的更小颗粒。
