A Study on Acute Effects of Fine Particles on Pulmonary Function of Schoolchildren in Beijing, China

To evaluate the acute effects of fine particles on pulmonary function, a longitudinal study was conducted. This study was carried out for the schoolchildren (3rd and 6th grades) living in Beijing, China. Children were asked to record their daily levels of peak expiratory flow rate using portable peak flow meter (mini-Wright) for 40 days. The relationship between daily PEFR and fine particle levels was analyzed using a mixed linear regression models including gender, height, the presence of respiratory symptoms, and daily average temperature and relative humidity as extraneous variables. The total number of students participating in this longitudinal study was 87. Daily measured PEFR was in the range of $253{\sim}501L/min$. On the daily basis, a PEFR measured in the morning was shown to be lower than that measured in the evening (or afternoon). The daily mean concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ over the study period were $180.2\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $103.2\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The IQR (inter-quartile range) of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ were $91.8\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $58.0\;{\mu}g/m^3$. Daily mean PEFR was regressed with the 24-hour average $PM_{10}$ (or $PM_{2.5}$) levels, weather information such as air temperature and relative humidity, and individual characteristics including gender, height, and respiratory symptoms. The analysis showed that the increase of fine particle concentrations was negatively associated with the variability in PEFR. The IQR increments of $PM_{10}$ or $PM_{2.5}$ (at 1-day time lag) were also shown to be related with 1.54L/min (95% Confidence intervals -2.14, -0.94) and 1.56L/min (95% CI -2.16, -0.95) decline in PEFR.