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Lung function and long term exposure to air pollutants in Switzerland. Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA) Team.
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1997
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AsthmaAir QualityLung FunctionTobacco ControlRespiratory ToxicologyEnvironmental HealthPublic HealthSmoking Related Lung DiseaseLong-term ExposureAllergyOccupational Lung DiseasesEnvironmental Lung DiseasesEpidemiologyPulmonary DiseaseInhalation ToxicologyLong Term ExposureGlobal HealthEnvironmental EpidemiologyAir PollutionWorkplace ExposureMedicine
The study examined 9,651 adults aged 18–60 across eight Swiss regions, using standardized medical exams and statistical models controlling for demographics and smoking status to assess the association between annual air pollutant levels and lung function (FVC and FEV1). The analysis revealed that NO₂, SO₂, and PM₁₀ were consistently associated with reduced FVC and FEV1, with PM₁₀ showing a 3.4 % decline in FVC per 10 µg/m³, while ozone effects were less consistent and atopy had no influence, leading to the conclusion that fossil‑fuel–derived air pollution is linked to impaired lung function.
The effect of long-term exposure to air pollutants was studied in a cross-sectional population-based sample of adults (aged 18 to 60 yr; n = 9,651) residing in eight different areas in Switzerland. Standardized medical examination included questionnaire data, lung function tests, skin-prick testing, and end-expiratory CO concentration. The impact of annual means of air pollutants on FVC and FEV1 was tested (controlling for age and age squared, sex, height, weight, educational level, nationality, and workplace exposure). Analyses were done separately for healthy never-smokers, ex-smokers (controlling for pack-yr), for current smokers (controlling for cigarettes per day and pack-yr smoked), and for the whole population. Significant and consistent effects on FVC and FEV1 were found for NO2, SO2, and particulate matter < 10 microm (PM10) in all subgroups and in the total population, with PM10 showing the most consistent effect of a 3.4% change in FVC per 10 microg/m3. Results for ozone were less consistent. Atopy did not influence this relationship. The limited number of study areas and high intercorrelation between the pollutants make it difficult to assess the effect of one single pollutant. Our conclusion is that air pollution from fossil fuel combustion, which is the main source of air pollution with SO2, NO2, and PM10 in Switzerland, is associated with decrements in lung function parameters in this study.