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Exposure to ozone (O3), a common air pollutant, at birth was associated with an increased risk of developing asthma by age three. According to the lead author Teresa To, PhD, senior scientist, Child Health Evaluative Services at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the hazard ratios for ozone measured at birth as a single pollutant showed statistically significant higher risks for development of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema.
For the T-CHEQ study, 1,881 children were followed from birth to 17 years of age, on average. Among these children, 31 percent developed asthma, 42 percent had allergic rhinitis and 76 percent had eczema. An 82 percent higher risk of developing asthma was associated with each 10 parts per billion, increase in exposure to ozone at birth. A similar risk was not observed in association with exposure to nitrogen dioxide or PM2.5, a type of pollutant.
Development of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema were determined based on any records of health services used for these conditions, researchers adjusted for variables like parental history of asthma and early home exposure to pollutants. Some studies have shown that ozone depletes antioxidant activity and increases indications of inflammation in the respiratory tract fluid lining and affects lung growth.
They examined O3 and NO2, as well as particulate matter PM2.5 and ultrafine particulates key pollutants that caused asthma, diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Research findings show that short-term and long-term exposure to NO2 and particulate matter can increase asthma exacerbations, respiratory symptoms, hospitalizations and death.
Similarly, short-term exposure to O3 can decrease lung function and increase the risk of respiratory infections in children. Children are at a higher risk because their lungs and other respiratory organs are smaller, and they spend more time in outdoor physical activities that make them breathe faster and more deeply. Poor air quality may have a larger impact on them.
Short-term exposure to pollutants such as ozone can decrease lung function, exacerbate asthma and increase the risk of respiratory infections. There is now mounting evidence that long-term exposure can lead to disease progression, such as from asthma to COPD and could increase the risk of death.
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