Effects of intrauterine and post-natal exposure to air pollution on children's pneumonia: Key roles in different particulate matters exposure during critical time windows

作者：Lu, Chan^*; Yang, Wenhui; Wang, Faming; Li, Bin; Liu, Zijing; Liao, Hongsen

来源：Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2023, 457: 131837.

DOI：10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131837

• Childhood pneumonia
• Pregnancy
• Postnatal
• Particulate matters
• Gaseous air pollution

Background: Despite mounting evidence linked pneumonia with air pollution, it is unclear what main pollutant(s) exposure in which critical window(s) play a key role in pneumonia.Objective: To examine effects of intrauterine and post-natal exposure to air pollution on children's doctor diagnosed pneumonia (DDP). Methods: A combination of cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study was conducted at Changsha, China during 2019-2020. Personal exposure to outdoor air pollutants at each child's home address was estimated using inverse distance weighted (IDW) method based on data from 10 air quality monitoring stations. Associations between personal air pollution exposure and DDP were evaluated.Results: Children's DDP was associated with intrauterine and post-natal exposure to PM2.5, PM2.5-10, and PM10, adjusted ORs (95% CI) of 1.17 (1.04-1.30), 1.09 (1.01-1.17), and 1.07 (1.00-1.14) for IQR increase in intrauterine exposure and 1.12 (1.02-1.22), 1.13 (1.06-1.21), and 1.28 (1.16-1.41) for post-natal exposure. Intrauterine PM2.5 exposure and post-natal PM10 exposure were associated with a higher risk of pneumonia. We identified the 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester, and first year as critical windows respectively for PM2.5, PM2.5-10, and PM10 exposure. Daytime exposure to traffic-related air pollution especially during early life increased DDP.Conclusion: Intrauterine and post-natal exposure to particulate matters played a dominant role in children's DDP.