Comparative analysis of ambient, in-home, and personal exposures reveals associations between breathing zone pollutant levels and asthma exacerbations in high-risk children

Abstract Background Air pollution is associated with poor asthma outcomes in children. However, most studies focus on ambient or indoor monitor pollution levels. Few studies evaluate breathing zone exposures, which may be more consequential for asthma outcomes. Methods We measured personal exposures...

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Main Authors: Camille M. Moore, Jonathan Thornburg, Elizabeth A. Secor, Katharine L. Hamlington, Allison M. Schiltz, Kristy L. Freeman, Jamie L. Everman, Tasha E. Fingerlin, Andrew H. Liu, Max A. Seibold
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:Respiratory Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03114-y
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author Camille M. Moore
Jonathan Thornburg
Elizabeth A. Secor
Katharine L. Hamlington
Allison M. Schiltz
Kristy L. Freeman
Jamie L. Everman
Tasha E. Fingerlin
Andrew H. Liu
Max A. Seibold
author_facet Camille M. Moore
Jonathan Thornburg
Elizabeth A. Secor
Katharine L. Hamlington
Allison M. Schiltz
Kristy L. Freeman
Jamie L. Everman
Tasha E. Fingerlin
Andrew H. Liu
Max A. Seibold
author_sort Camille M. Moore
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Air pollution is associated with poor asthma outcomes in children. However, most studies focus on ambient or indoor monitor pollution levels. Few studies evaluate breathing zone exposures, which may be more consequential for asthma outcomes. Methods We measured personal exposures to NO2, O3, PM10 and PM10 constituents, including black carbon (BC), brown carbon (BrC), environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), endotoxins, and 𝛽-glucan, in a cohort of children with exacerbation-prone asthma for 72 h using wearable monitors. Personal exposures were compared to concentrations from in-home monitors in the child’s bedroom and ambient EPA air quality monitoring using correlation analyses. Personal exposures were tested for association with lung function and compared between participants with and without well-controlled asthma and signs of exacerbation in the prior 60 days using censored regression with robust standard errors. Results 81 children completed 219 monitoring sessions. Personal NO2, O3, and PM10 exposures ranged from < 2 to 99.1 parts per billion (ppb), < 1.5 to 23.3 ppb, and < 1 to 141.9 𝜇g/m3, respectively. Personal endotoxin ranged from 0.04 to 101.3 EU/m3, 𝛽-glucan from 18.5 to 1,162 pg/m3, BC from < 0.3 to 46.9 𝜇g/m3, BrC from < 0.3 to 6.1 𝜇g/m3, and ETS from < 0.3 to 56.6 𝜇g/m3. Correlations between personal and ambient PM10, NO2, and O3 concentrations were poor, whereas personal PM10 and NO2 correlated with in-home concentrations. In-home monitoring less frequently detected BrC (Personal:79% > lower limit of detection, Home:36.8%) and ETS (Personal:83.7%, Home:4.1%) than personal exposures, and detected BC in participants without personal exposure (Personal: 26.5%, Home: 96%). Personal exposures were not significantly associated with lung function or daily asthma control. Children requiring corticosteroid treatment for asthma exacerbation within 60 days of exposure monitoring had 1.98, 2.21 and 2.04 times higher personal exposures to BrC (p < 0.001; 95% CI: 1.43–2.37), ETS (p = 0.007; 95% CI: 1.25–3.91), and endotoxin (p = 0.012; 95% CI: 1.14–3.68), respectively. Conclusions Although in-home monitoring was correlated with personal exposure to PM10 and NO2, in-home detection of ETS and BrC was not associated with personal exposures. Personal PM10 exposures in general, as well as BrC, ETS, and endotoxin levels were associated with recent childhood asthma exacerbations. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-14312d82b78a4c8e873d22fb8db1e22c2025-02-02T12:37:57ZengBMCRespiratory Research1465-993X2025-01-0126111610.1186/s12931-025-03114-yComparative analysis of ambient, in-home, and personal exposures reveals associations between breathing zone pollutant levels and asthma exacerbations in high-risk childrenCamille M. Moore0Jonathan Thornburg1Elizabeth A. Secor2Katharine L. Hamlington3Allison M. Schiltz4Kristy L. Freeman5Jamie L. Everman6Tasha E. Fingerlin7Andrew H. Liu8Max A. Seibold9Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish HealthRTI InternationalCenter for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish HealthSection of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children’s Hospital ColoradoSection of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children’s Hospital ColoradoSection of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children’s Hospital ColoradoCenter for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish HealthCenter for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish HealthSection of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children’s Hospital ColoradoCenter for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish HealthAbstract Background Air pollution is associated with poor asthma outcomes in children. However, most studies focus on ambient or indoor monitor pollution levels. Few studies evaluate breathing zone exposures, which may be more consequential for asthma outcomes. Methods We measured personal exposures to NO2, O3, PM10 and PM10 constituents, including black carbon (BC), brown carbon (BrC), environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), endotoxins, and 𝛽-glucan, in a cohort of children with exacerbation-prone asthma for 72 h using wearable monitors. Personal exposures were compared to concentrations from in-home monitors in the child’s bedroom and ambient EPA air quality monitoring using correlation analyses. Personal exposures were tested for association with lung function and compared between participants with and without well-controlled asthma and signs of exacerbation in the prior 60 days using censored regression with robust standard errors. Results 81 children completed 219 monitoring sessions. Personal NO2, O3, and PM10 exposures ranged from < 2 to 99.1 parts per billion (ppb), < 1.5 to 23.3 ppb, and < 1 to 141.9 𝜇g/m3, respectively. Personal endotoxin ranged from 0.04 to 101.3 EU/m3, 𝛽-glucan from 18.5 to 1,162 pg/m3, BC from < 0.3 to 46.9 𝜇g/m3, BrC from < 0.3 to 6.1 𝜇g/m3, and ETS from < 0.3 to 56.6 𝜇g/m3. Correlations between personal and ambient PM10, NO2, and O3 concentrations were poor, whereas personal PM10 and NO2 correlated with in-home concentrations. In-home monitoring less frequently detected BrC (Personal:79% > lower limit of detection, Home:36.8%) and ETS (Personal:83.7%, Home:4.1%) than personal exposures, and detected BC in participants without personal exposure (Personal: 26.5%, Home: 96%). Personal exposures were not significantly associated with lung function or daily asthma control. Children requiring corticosteroid treatment for asthma exacerbation within 60 days of exposure monitoring had 1.98, 2.21 and 2.04 times higher personal exposures to BrC (p < 0.001; 95% CI: 1.43–2.37), ETS (p = 0.007; 95% CI: 1.25–3.91), and endotoxin (p = 0.012; 95% CI: 1.14–3.68), respectively. Conclusions Although in-home monitoring was correlated with personal exposure to PM10 and NO2, in-home detection of ETS and BrC was not associated with personal exposures. Personal PM10 exposures in general, as well as BrC, ETS, and endotoxin levels were associated with recent childhood asthma exacerbations. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03114-yPersonal exposuresParticulatesAsthmaExacerbationsEnvironmental monitoringPollutant
spellingShingle Camille M. Moore
Jonathan Thornburg
Elizabeth A. Secor
Katharine L. Hamlington
Allison M. Schiltz
Kristy L. Freeman
Jamie L. Everman
Tasha E. Fingerlin
Andrew H. Liu
Max A. Seibold
Comparative analysis of ambient, in-home, and personal exposures reveals associations between breathing zone pollutant levels and asthma exacerbations in high-risk children
Respiratory Research
Personal exposures
Particulates
Asthma
Exacerbations
Environmental monitoring
Pollutant
title Comparative analysis of ambient, in-home, and personal exposures reveals associations between breathing zone pollutant levels and asthma exacerbations in high-risk children
title_full Comparative analysis of ambient, in-home, and personal exposures reveals associations between breathing zone pollutant levels and asthma exacerbations in high-risk children
title_fullStr Comparative analysis of ambient, in-home, and personal exposures reveals associations between breathing zone pollutant levels and asthma exacerbations in high-risk children
title_full_unstemmed Comparative analysis of ambient, in-home, and personal exposures reveals associations between breathing zone pollutant levels and asthma exacerbations in high-risk children
title_short Comparative analysis of ambient, in-home, and personal exposures reveals associations between breathing zone pollutant levels and asthma exacerbations in high-risk children
title_sort comparative analysis of ambient in home and personal exposures reveals associations between breathing zone pollutant levels and asthma exacerbations in high risk children
topic Personal exposures
Particulates
Asthma
Exacerbations
Environmental monitoring
Pollutant
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03114-y
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