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Citation
Tags
HERO ID
2995852
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Ambient ammonia exposures in an agricultural community and pediatric asthma morbidity
Author(s)
Loftus, C; Yost, M; Sampson, P; Torres, E; Arias, G; Breckwich Vasquez, V; Hartin, K; Armstrong, J; Tchong-French, M; Vedal, S; Bhatti, P; Karr, C
Year
2015
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Epidemiology
ISSN:
1044-3983
EISSN:
1531-5487
Volume
26
Issue
6
Page Numbers
794-801
Language
English
PMID
26352250
DOI
10.1097/EDE.0000000000000368
Web of Science Id
WOS:000362553900003
Abstract
Background: Large-scale animal feeding operations compromise regional air quality in the rural US through emission of pollutants, such as ammonia gas. Exposure to airborne pollution from animal feeding operations may cause pediatric asthma exacerbations in surrounding communities. Objectives: To describe spatial and temporal patterns in ambient ammonia concentrations in an agricultural region, and to investigate associations between short-term fluctuations in ammonia and subsequent changes in respiratory health in children with asthma. Methods: For 13 months in the Yakima Valley of Washington State, 14 monitors sampled ammonia in outdoor air for 24-hour periods every 6 days. School-age children with asthma (n = 51) were followed for two health outcomes: biweekly reports of asthma symptoms and quick relief medication usage, and daily measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 second. We assessed associations between each outcome and ammonia using generalized estimating equations. Results: Twenty-four-hour ammonia concentrations varied from 0.2 to 238.1 μg/m3 during the study period and displayed a strong correlation with proximity to animal feeding operations. The percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 3.8% lower (95% confidence interval = 0.2, 7.3) per interquartile increase in 1-day lagged ammonia concentration and 3.0% lower (95% confidence interval = 0.5, 5.8) for 2-day lagged concentration. We observed no associations between self-reported asthma symptoms or medication usage and estimated ammonia exposure. Conclusions: Ammonia concentrations were elevated in this community and strongly predicted by proximity to animal feeding operations. Ammonia’s association with acute lung function decrements in children with asthma in the surrounding community may be causal or, alternatively, ammonia may be a marker for other pollutants from animal feeding operations associated with respiratory effects.
Tags
IRIS
•
Ammonia
Literature Search Update – Sept 2015 (private)
Literature Search Results
Health Effect/Toxicity Studies
Human studies
Epidemiology – agricultural setting
Cited 2016
ToxReview
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