Jump to main content
US EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Search
Search
Main menu
Environmental Topics
Laws & Regulations
About EPA
Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)
Contact Us
Print
Feedback
Export to File
Search:
This record has one attached file:
Add More Files
Attach File(s):
Display Name for File*:
Save
Citation
Tags
HERO ID
3848881
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Association between prenatal exposure to industrial air pollution and onset of early childhood ear infection in China
Author(s)
Deng, Q; Lu, C; Li, Y; Chen, L; He, Y; Sundell, Jan; Norbäck, Dan
Year
2017
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Atmospheric Environment
ISSN:
1352-2310
EISSN:
1873-2844
Volume
157
Page Numbers
18-26
Language
English
DOI
10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.03.005
Web of Science Id
WOS:000400217900003
Abstract
Background: Otitis media (OM) is a common infection in early childhood with repeated attacks that lead to long-term complications and sequelae, but its etiology still remains unclear. Objective: To examine the association between early life exposure to air pollution and childhood OM, with the purpose of identifying critical windows of exposure and key components of air pollution in the development of OM.
Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 1617 children aged 3-4 years in Changsha, China (2011-2012). The prevalence of OM was assessed by a questionnaire administered by the parents. Individual exposures to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <= 10 gm (PM10) during prenatal, postnatal, and current windows were estimated using the measured concentrations at monitoring stations. We used logistic regression model to examine the OM risk in terms of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for exposure to different air pollutants during different timing windows, adjusting for covariates, multi-pollutants, and multi windows.
Results: Life-time prevalence of doctor-diagnosed OM in preschool children in Changsha was 7.3%. Childhood OM was associated only with prenatal exposure to the industrial air pollution with adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.44 (1.09-1.88) for a 27 g/m(3) increase in SO2, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. We further found that prenatal SO2 exposure was not associated with the repeated attacks but was associated with the onset of OM, adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.47 (1.10-1.96). The association between prenatal SO2 exposure and early childhood OM was robust after adjusting for other pollutants and windows. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the association was stronger in females, children with parental atopy, and children living in houses with cockroaches, new redecoration, and condensation on window pane during winter.
Conclusion: We provide new evidence that prenatal exposure to industrial air pollution is associated with early childhood OM in China and may contribute to the onset of childhood OM. Our findings are helpful in developing more effective preventative strategies for childhood OM. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Air pollution; Ear infection; Otitis media; Pregnancy; Sulfur dioxide; Infection; Trimester
Tags
IRIS
•
Phthalates – Targeted Search for Epidemiological Studies
Excluded
Source - August 2017 Update (Private)
WOS - Forward Search Results
NAAQS
•
LitSearch-NOx (2024)
Forward Citation Search
Epidemiology
Results
Respiratory-LT
WoS
Respiratory-ST
WoS
Exposure
Results
Error Impacts
WoS
Error Sources
WoS
Keyword Search
Epidemiology
Respiratory
WoS
Reproductive
WoS
Exposure
Error Impacts
WoS
Indoor
WoS
TIAB Screening
Epidemiology
Include
Respiratory
Home
Learn about HERO
Using HERO
Search HERO
Projects in HERO
Risk Assessment
Transparency & Integrity