The Association Between Childhood Traffic Exhaust Exposure and Asthma Differs Between Normal and Overweight Children

Objective: Examine the association between diesel exhaust particles and asthma development in normal and overweight children at age seven.Study Design: Newborn children (n = 592) were monitored for exposure to diesel exhaust particles from birth to age seven. Clinical examinations were performed at age seven to determine the presence of asthma based on the American Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria. Weight assessments were performed at age seven and children were categorized as either normal or overweight based on their body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.Results: There was a significant association between average lifetime diesel exhaust particle exposure and asthma diagnosis at seven for the entire cohort (aOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.02 – 3.40). When the cohort was stratified by their BMI status, exposure to diesel exhaust particles was significantly associated with asthma in children who were normal (aOR 2.16, 95% CI 1.05 – 4.45) but not overweight (aOR 1.87, 95% CI 0.62 – 5.69). Exposure to diesel exhaust particles was not significant for either normal or overweight children when classified by waist circumference. Conclusion: The results of this study support the link between diesel exhaust particle exposure and childhood asthma. The strength of this association at age seven may depend on childhood weight status.

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Medicine: Epidemiology (Environmental Health)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Cincinnati

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Lockey, Stephen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Levin, Linda

• Epidemiology
• childhood asthma
• diesel exhaust particles
• body mass index
• waist circumference
• childhood obesity

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1352490277

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:ucin1352490277