Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and road traffic noise and asthma incidence in adults: The Danish Nurse cohort. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Shuo; Lim, Youn-Hee; Pedersen, Marie; Jørgensen, Jeanette T.; Amini, Heresh; Cole-Hunter, Thomas; Mehta, Amar J.; So, Rina; Mortensen, Laust H.; Westendorp, Rudi G.J.; Loft, Steffen; Bräuner, Elvira V.; Ketzel, Matthias; Hertel, Ole; Brandt, Jørgen; Jensen, Steen S.; Christensen, Jesper H.; Sigsgaard, Torben; Geels, Camilla; Frohn, Lise M.; Brborić, Maja; Radonić, Jelena; Sekulic, Maja Turk; Bønnelykke, Klaus; Backalarz, Claus; Simonsen, Mette K.; Andersen, Zorana J.
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 152(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Air pollution -- Road traffic noise -- Asthma incidence -- Adult; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106464
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Highlights: Long-term exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of asthma in adults. Road traffic noise is not independently associated with adult-asthma incidence. Associations with traffic-related pollutant NO2 are most consistent. Abstract: Background: Ambient air pollution is likely a risk factor for asthma, and recent evidence suggests the possible relevance of road traffic noise. Objectives: We examined the associations of long-term exposure to air pollution and road traffic noise with adult-asthma incidence. Methods: We followed 28, 731 female nurses (age > 44 years) from the Danish Nurse Cohort, recruited in 1993 and 1999, for first hospital contact for asthma from 1977 until 2015. We estimated residential annual mean concentrations of particulate matter with diameter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5 ) since 1990 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) since 1970 with the Danish DEHM/UBM/AirGIS modeling system, and road traffic noise (Lden ) since 1970 with the Nord2000 model. Time-varying Cox regression models were used to associate air pollution and road traffic noise exposure with asthma incidence. Results: During 18.6 years' mean follow-up, 528 out of 23, 093 participants had hospital contact for asthma. The hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for asthma incidence associated with 3-year moving average exposures were 1.29 (1.03, 1.61) per 6.3 µg/m 3 for PM2.5, 1.16 (1.07, 1.27) per 8.2 µg/m 3 for NO2, and 1.12 (1.00, 1.25) per 10 dB for Lden . The HR for NO2 remained unchanged after adjustment for either PM2.5 or Lden, while the HRs for PM2.5 and Lden attenuated to unity after adjustment for NO2 . Conclusions: Long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with adult-asthma incidence independently of road traffic noise, with NO2 most relevant. Road traffic noise was not independently associated with adult-asthma incidence.