Residential Proximity Land Use Characteristics and Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Pulmonary Function in Asthmatic Children

Background: Urban air pollution adversely affects children’s respiratory systems, but the impact of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on children’s pulmonary function remains unclear. This study aims to identify exhaled VOCs linked to land use characteristics and reduced pulmonary function in asthma...

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Main Authors: Bo-Yu Hsiao, Chun-Sheng Huang, Chang-Fu Wu, Kuo-Liong Chien, Hsiao-Yu Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Xenobiotics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/15/1/27
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author Bo-Yu Hsiao
Chun-Sheng Huang
Chang-Fu Wu
Kuo-Liong Chien
Hsiao-Yu Yang
author_facet Bo-Yu Hsiao
Chun-Sheng Huang
Chang-Fu Wu
Kuo-Liong Chien
Hsiao-Yu Yang
author_sort Bo-Yu Hsiao
collection DOAJ
description Background: Urban air pollution adversely affects children’s respiratory systems, but the impact of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on children’s pulmonary function remains unclear. This study aims to identify exhaled VOCs linked to land use characteristics and reduced pulmonary function in asthmatic children, as well as to explore environmental thresholds influencing VOC exposure levels. Methods: We enrolled 97 asthmatic children, aged 7 to 20, from Changhua County, Taiwan, and collected personal and residential data, collected exhaled VOC samples, and conducted pulmonary function tests. Land use characteristics were derived from the children’s residential addresses. This study used two models to explore the relationships between land use, VOC levels, and pulmonary function. Results: Our results show that m/p-xylene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were key contributors to FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC and significantly predicted FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC < 90% (AUC = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.79). These VOCs were also linked to major road areas within a 300 m buffer around children’s homes. Conclusions: This study fills a research gap on low-level outdoor VOC exposure and pediatric respiratory health, examining 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and m/p-xylene as potential biomarkers for impaired pulmonary function in children.
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spelling doaj-art-efea4eb4ba784af1a944644e4102ab6e2025-08-20T03:12:15ZengMDPI AGJournal of Xenobiotics2039-47052039-47132025-02-011512710.3390/jox15010027Residential Proximity Land Use Characteristics and Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Pulmonary Function in Asthmatic ChildrenBo-Yu Hsiao0Chun-Sheng Huang1Chang-Fu Wu2Kuo-Liong Chien3Hsiao-Yu Yang4Population Health Research Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10055, TaiwanInstitute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10055, TaiwanPopulation Health Research Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10055, TaiwanPopulation Health Research Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10055, TaiwanPopulation Health Research Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10055, TaiwanBackground: Urban air pollution adversely affects children’s respiratory systems, but the impact of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on children’s pulmonary function remains unclear. This study aims to identify exhaled VOCs linked to land use characteristics and reduced pulmonary function in asthmatic children, as well as to explore environmental thresholds influencing VOC exposure levels. Methods: We enrolled 97 asthmatic children, aged 7 to 20, from Changhua County, Taiwan, and collected personal and residential data, collected exhaled VOC samples, and conducted pulmonary function tests. Land use characteristics were derived from the children’s residential addresses. This study used two models to explore the relationships between land use, VOC levels, and pulmonary function. Results: Our results show that m/p-xylene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were key contributors to FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC and significantly predicted FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC < 90% (AUC = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.79). These VOCs were also linked to major road areas within a 300 m buffer around children’s homes. Conclusions: This study fills a research gap on low-level outdoor VOC exposure and pediatric respiratory health, examining 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and m/p-xylene as potential biomarkers for impaired pulmonary function in children.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/15/1/27exhaled volatile organic compoundsland use variablespulmonary functionasthmatic childrenbiomarkers
spellingShingle Bo-Yu Hsiao
Chun-Sheng Huang
Chang-Fu Wu
Kuo-Liong Chien
Hsiao-Yu Yang
Residential Proximity Land Use Characteristics and Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Pulmonary Function in Asthmatic Children
Journal of Xenobiotics
exhaled volatile organic compounds
land use variables
pulmonary function
asthmatic children
biomarkers
title Residential Proximity Land Use Characteristics and Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Pulmonary Function in Asthmatic Children
title_full Residential Proximity Land Use Characteristics and Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Pulmonary Function in Asthmatic Children
title_fullStr Residential Proximity Land Use Characteristics and Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Pulmonary Function in Asthmatic Children
title_full_unstemmed Residential Proximity Land Use Characteristics and Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Pulmonary Function in Asthmatic Children
title_short Residential Proximity Land Use Characteristics and Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Pulmonary Function in Asthmatic Children
title_sort residential proximity land use characteristics and exhaled volatile organic compounds impact on pulmonary function in asthmatic children
topic exhaled volatile organic compounds
land use variables
pulmonary function
asthmatic children
biomarkers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/15/1/27
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