TY - JOUR
T1 - Air pollution from livestock farms is associated with airway obstruction in neighboring residents
AU - Borlee, Floor
AU - Joris Yzermans, C.
AU - Aalders, Bernadette
AU - Rooijackers, Jos
AU - Krop, Esmeralda
AU - Maassen, Catharina B.M.
AU - Schellevis, François
AU - Brunekreef, Bert
AU - Heederik, Dick
AU - Smit, Lidwien A.M.
PY - 2017/11/1
Y1 - 2017/11/1
N2 - Rationale: Livestock farm emissions may not only affect respiratory health of farmers but also of neighboring residents. Objectives: To explore associations between spatial and temporal variation in pollutant emissions from livestock farms and lung function in a general, nonfarming, rural population in the Netherlands. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2,308 adults (age, 20-72 yr). A pulmonary function test was performed measuring prebronchodilator and post-bronchodilator FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF). Spatial exposure was assessed as (1) number of farms within 500 m and 1,000 m of the home, (2) distance to the nearest farm, and (3) modeled annual average fine dust emissions from farms within 500 m and 1,000 m of the home address. Temporal exposure was assessed as week-average ambient particulate matter,10 μm in diameter and ammonia (NH3) concentrations before lung function measurements. Data were analyzed with generalized additive models (smoothing). Measurements and Main Results: A negative association was found between the number of livestock farms within a 1,000-m buffer from the home address and MMEF, which was more pronounced in participants without atopy. No associations were found with other spatial exposure variables. Week-average particulate matter,10 μm in diameter and NH3 levels were negatively associated with FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and MMEF. In a two-pollutant model, only NH3 remained associated. A 25-mg/m3 increase in NH3 was associated with a 2.22% lower FEV1 (95% confidence interval, 23.69 to 20.74), FEV1/FVC of 21.12% (21.96 to 20.28), and MMEF of 25.67% (28.80 to 22.55). Conclusions: Spatial and temporal variation in livestock air pollution emissions are associated with lung function deficits in nonfarming residents.
AB - Rationale: Livestock farm emissions may not only affect respiratory health of farmers but also of neighboring residents. Objectives: To explore associations between spatial and temporal variation in pollutant emissions from livestock farms and lung function in a general, nonfarming, rural population in the Netherlands. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2,308 adults (age, 20-72 yr). A pulmonary function test was performed measuring prebronchodilator and post-bronchodilator FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF). Spatial exposure was assessed as (1) number of farms within 500 m and 1,000 m of the home, (2) distance to the nearest farm, and (3) modeled annual average fine dust emissions from farms within 500 m and 1,000 m of the home address. Temporal exposure was assessed as week-average ambient particulate matter,10 μm in diameter and ammonia (NH3) concentrations before lung function measurements. Data were analyzed with generalized additive models (smoothing). Measurements and Main Results: A negative association was found between the number of livestock farms within a 1,000-m buffer from the home address and MMEF, which was more pronounced in participants without atopy. No associations were found with other spatial exposure variables. Week-average particulate matter,10 μm in diameter and NH3 levels were negatively associated with FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and MMEF. In a two-pollutant model, only NH3 remained associated. A 25-mg/m3 increase in NH3 was associated with a 2.22% lower FEV1 (95% confidence interval, 23.69 to 20.74), FEV1/FVC of 21.12% (21.96 to 20.28), and MMEF of 25.67% (28.80 to 22.55). Conclusions: Spatial and temporal variation in livestock air pollution emissions are associated with lung function deficits in nonfarming residents.
KW - Air pollution
KW - Livestock farm
KW - Lung function
KW - Residents
KW - Respiratory health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85024093191&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201701-0021OC
DO - https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201701-0021OC
M3 - Article
C2 - 28489427
SN - 1073-449X
VL - 196
SP - 1152
EP - 1161
JO - American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
JF - American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
IS - 9
ER -