Environment/Climate Change
Association between prenatal and childhood exposure to particulate matter and asthmatic symptoms in the children of the Cyprus MEDEA Cohort Stefania Papatheodorou* Stefania Papatheodorou Nicole Alkhouri Veronica Wang Panayiotis Yiallouros Panayiotis Kouis Pinelopi Anagnostopoulou Petros Koutrakis
Background: Asthma is highly prevalent among children, especially in the eastern Mediterranean region, where desert dust storms heighten susceptibility to exacerbation of respiratory asthmatic symptoms.
Aims: To examine the association between prenatal and childhood exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 and the development of ever and 12-month asthma or asthmatic symptoms before clinical exam and interview within the Mitigating the Health Effects of Desert Dust Storms Using Exposure-Reduction Approaches (MEDEA) cohort in Cyprus.
Methods: The study included 3,773 MEDEA cohort children (7-13 years old) from Nicosia and Limassol. Prenatal and 12 months before the clinical exam and interview PM exposure was calculated for each participant. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between prenatal exposure and ever outcomes, as well as 12-month exposure and 12-month outcomes. The models were adjusted for demographics, clinical characteristics, family history, season and long-term trends, and climatic factors. We examined effect measure modification (EMM) by age, sex, and BMI.
Results: For each 1 µg/m3 increase in PM10 levels during the prenatal period, the odds of ever having wheezing increased by 3% (95% Confidence Intervals [CI]: 2% to 4%), and ever doctor-diagnosed asthma increased by 4% (95% CI: 2% to 6%). We did not find any association between 12-month PM exposure and asthma or asthmatic symptoms a year before the interview. There was an indication for EMM by sex, where male participants had higher odds (8%, 95% CI 5% to 10%) of ever asthma than females (-3%, 95% CI -5%-3%). There was no indication for EMM by age or BMI,
Conclusion: Our study shows that prenatal exposure to particulate matter increases the odds of having respiratory symptoms and asthma in children born in Nicosia and Limassol. Continued efforts are needed to identify the most vulnerable populations and develop strategies to reduce exposures and improve air quality.