Long-term exposure to ambient ultrafine particles and respiratory disease incidence in in Toronto, Canada: a cohort study

• DOI: 10.1186/s12940-017-0276-7
• Publication Date: 2017-06-19T10:21:48Z
• Authors: Scott Weichenthal; Li Bai; Marianne Hatzopoulou; Keith Van Ryswyk; Jeffrey C. Kwong; Michael Jerrett; Aaron van Donkelaar; Randall V. Martin; Richard T. Burnett; Hong Lu; Hong Chen
• Keywords: Interquartile range; Ultrafine particle

Little is known about the long-term health effects of ambient ultrafine particles (<0.1 μm) (UFPs) including their association with respiratory disease incidence. In this study, we examined relationship between exposure to UFPs and incidence lung cancer, adult-onset asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD). Our study cohort included approximately 1.1 million adults who resided in Toronto, Canada were followed for 1996 2012. UFP exposures assigned residential locations using a land use regression model. Random-effect Cox proportional hazard models used estimate ratios (HRs) describing adjusting fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5), NO2, other individual/neighbourhood-level covariates. total, 74,543 incident cases COPD, 87,141 12,908 cancer observed during follow-up period. single pollutant models, each interquartile increase was associated COPD (HR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.09) but not asthma 1.00, 1.01) or 0.97, 1.03). Additional adjustment NO2 attenuated HR no longer elevated 1.01, 0.98, PM2.5 increased all three outcomes risk estimates sensitive indirect smoking body mass index. general, did observe clear evidence positive associations independent pollutants. Further replication required as few studies have evaluated these relationships.