Tag: respiratory

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Respiratory hospital admissions in young children living near metal smelters, pulp mills and oil refineries in two Canadian provinces.

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Respiratory hospital admissions in young children living near metal smelters, pulp mills and oil refineries in two Canadian provinces.

Environ Int. 2016 May 17;94:24-32

Authors: Brand A, McLean KE, Henderson SB, Fournier M, Liu L, Kosatsky T, Smargiassi A

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Industrial plants emit air pollutants like fine particles (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that may affect the health of individuals living nearby.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of community exposure to air emissions of PM2.5, SO2, and NO2 from pulp mills, oil refineries, metal smelters, on respiratory hospital admissions in young children in Quebec (QC) and British Columbia (BC), Canada.
METHODS: We assessed QC, BC and pooled associations between the following estimates of exposure and hospital admissions for asthma and bronchiolitis in children aged 2-4years for the years 2002-2010: i) Crude emission exposures at the residential postal codes of children, calculated by multiplying estimated daily emissions of PM2.5, SO2, or NO2 from all nearby (<7.5km) pulp mills, oil refineries, metal smelters emitting yearly ?50t and their total emissions, by the percent of the day each postal code was downwind; ii) Daily levels of these pollutants at central ambient monitoring stations nearby the industries and the children’s residences.
RESULTS: Seventy-one major industries were selected between QC and BC, with a total of 2868 cases included in our analyses. More cases were exposed to emissions from major industries in QC than in BC (e.g. 2505 admissions near SO2 industrial emitters in QC vs 334 in BC), although air pollutant levels were similar. Odds ratios (ORs) for crude refinery and smelter emissions were positive in QC but more variable in BC. For example with PM2.5 in QC, ORs were 1.13 per 0.15t/day (95% CI: 1.00-1.27) and 1.03 (95% CI: 0.99-1.07) for refinery and smelter emissions, respectively. Pooled results of QC and BC for crude total SO2 emissions from all sources indicated a 1% increase (0-3%) in odds of hospital admissions per 1.50t/day increase in exposure. Associations with measured pollutant levels were only seen in BC, with SO2 and NO2.
CONCLUSION: Hospital admissions for wheezing diseases in young children were associated with community exposure to industrial air pollutant emissions. Future work is needed to better assess the risk of exposure to complex mixture of air pollutants from multiple industrial sources.

PMID: 27203781 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Open fires ‘worsen conditions’ for people with asthma and respiratory difficulties – Irish Independent


Irish Independent

Open fires 'worsen conditions' for people with asthma and respiratory difficulties
Irish Independent
In an effort to understand more about how particles from solid fuel fires are exacerbating respiratory difficulties, The Asthma Society is starting baseline research into indoor air quality in Irish homes. With 470,000 people affected, Ireland has the …
Open fires 'bad' for asthmaIrish Examiner

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Lower Air Pollution Levels Linked To Fewer Asthma Symptoms, Respiratory Problems In Children – Medical Daily


Medical Daily

Lower Air Pollution Levels Linked To Fewer Asthma Symptoms, Respiratory Problems In Children
Medical Daily
The authors found a 47 percent reduction in ambient air pollution during that period was associated with a 32 percent decline in bronchitis symptoms among 10-year-olds with asthma. Children without asthma reaped benefits too: They were also 21 percent …

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Humana joins data-driven respiratory program to help asthma-riddled Louisville – The Lane Report

Humana joins data-driven respiratory program to help asthma-riddled Louisville
The Lane Report
Humana is the latest local employer to join AIR Louisville, a new approach to improving asthma that leverages sensors, big data, and community collaboration. AIR Louisville is a grant-funded program designed to reduce the burden of asthma in Louisville …
Humana joins community designed to reduce asthma burdenFinancialNews.co.uk (blog)

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Alternaria alternata allergens: Markers of exposure, phylogeny and risk of fungi-induced respiratory allergy.

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Alternaria alternata allergens: Markers of exposure, phylogeny and risk of fungi-induced respiratory allergy.

Environ Int. 2016 Jan 27;89-90:71-80

Authors: Gabriel MF, Postigo I, Tomaz CT, Martínez J

Abstract
Alternaria alternata spores are considered a well-known biological contaminant and a very common potent aeroallergen source that is found in environmental samples. The most intense exposure to A. alternata allergens is likely to occur outdoors; however, Alternaria and other allergenic fungi can colonize in indoor environments and thereby increase the fungal aeroallergen exposure levels. A consequence of human exposure to fungal aeroallergens, sensitization to A. alternata, has been unequivocally associated with increased asthma severity. Among allergenic proteins described in this fungal specie, the major allergen, Alt a 1, has been reported as the main elicitor of airborne allergies in patients affected by a mold allergy and considered a marker of primary sensitization to A. alternata. Moreover, A. alternata sensitization seems to be a triggering factor in the development of poly-sensitization, most likely because of the capability of A. alternata to produce, in addition to Alt a 1, a broad and complex array of cross-reactive allergens that present homologs in several other allergenic sources. The study and understanding of A. alternata allergen information may be the key to explaining why sensitization to A. alternata is a risk factor for asthma and also why the severity of asthma is associated to this mold. Compared to other common environmental allergenic sources, such as pollens and dust mites, fungi are reported to be neglected and underestimated. The rise of the A. alternata allergy has enabled more research into the role of this fungal specie and its allergenic components in the induction of IgE-mediated respiratory diseases. Indeed, recent research on the identification and characterization of A. alternata allergens has allowed for the consideration of new perspectives in the categorization of allergenic molds, assessment of exposure and diagnosis of fungi-induced allergies.

PMID: 26826364 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Heavy metals in PM2.5 and in blood, and children’s respiratory symptoms and asthma from an e-waste recycling area.

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Heavy metals in PM2.5 and in blood, and children’s respiratory symptoms and asthma from an e-waste recycling area.

Environ Pollut. 2016 Jan 21;210:346-353

Authors: Zeng X, Xu X, Zheng X, Reponen T, Chen A, Huo X

Abstract
This study was to investigate the levels of heavy metals in PM2.5 and in blood, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and asthma, and the related factors to them. Lead and cadmium in both PM2.5 and blood were significant higher in Guiyu (exposed area) than Haojiang (reference area) (p < 0.05), however, no significant difference was found for chromium and manganese in PM2.5 and in blood. The prevalence of cough, phlegm, dyspnea, and wheeze of children was higher in Guiyu compared to Haojiang (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found for the prevalence of asthma in children between Guiyu and Haojiang. Living in Guiyu was positively associated with blood lead (B = 0.196, p < 0.001), blood cadmium (B = 0.148, p < 0.05) and cough (OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.30-4.32; p < 0.01). Blood lead>5 ?g/dL was significantly associated with asthma (OR, 9.50; 95% CI, 1.16-77.49). Higher blood chromium and blood manganese were associated with more cough and wheeze, respectively. Our data suggest that living in e-waste exposed area may lead to increased levels of heavy metals, and accelerated prevalence of respiratory symptoms and asthma.

PMID: 26803791 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Respiratory disease in the Asia-Pacific region: Cough as a key symptom.

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Respiratory disease in the Asia-Pacific region: Cough as a key symptom.

Allergy Asthma Proc. 2016 Jan 21;

Authors: Cho SH, Ghoshal AG, Lin HC, Muttalif AR, Thanaviratananich S, Bagga S, Faruqi R, Sajjan S, Brnabic AJ, Dehle FC, Wang DY

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Respiratory diseases represent a significant impact on health care. A cross-sectional, multicountry (India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand) observational study was conducted to investigate the proportion of adult patients who received care for a primary diagnosis of asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or rhinosinusitis.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of patients who received care for asthma, AR, COPD, and rhinosinusitis, and the frequency and main symptoms reported.
METHODS: Patients ages greater than or equal to 18 years, who presented to a physician with symptoms that met the diagnostic criteria for a primary diagnosis of asthma, AR, COPD, or rhinosinusitis were enrolled. Patients and physicians completed a survey that contained questions related to demographics and respiratory symptoms.
RESULTS: A total of 13,902 patients with a respiratory disorder were screened, of whom 7030 were eligible and 5250 enrolled. The highest percentage of patients who received care had a primary diagnosis of AR (14.0% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 13.4 -14.6%]), followed by asthma (13.5% [95% CI, 12.9 -14.1%]), rhinosinusitis (5.4% [95% CI, 4.6 -5.3%]), and COPD (4.9% [95% CI, 5.0 -5.7%]). Patients with a primary diagnosis of COPD (73%), followed by asthma (61%), rhinosinusitis (59%), and AR (47%) most frequently reported cough as a symptom. Cough was the main reason for seeking medical care among patients with a primary diagnosis of COPD (43%), asthma (33%), rhinosinusitis (13%), and AR (11%).
CONCLUSION: Asthma, AR, COPD, and rhinosinusitis represent a significant proportion of respiratory disorders in patients who presented to health care professionals in the Asia-Pacific region, many with concomitant disease. Cough was a prominent symptom and the major reason for patients with respiratory diseases to seek medical care.

PMID: 26802834 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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