Ya-Dong Zhao

BACKGROUND: Males and females exhibit different health responses to air pollution, but little is known about how exposure to air pollution affects juvenile respiratory health after analysis stratified by allergic predisposition. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between air pollutants and asthmatic symptoms in Chinese children selected from multiple sites in a heavily industrialized province of China, and investigate whether allergic predisposition modifies this relationship. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: 30139 Chinese children aged 3-to-12 years were selected from 25 districts of seven cities in northeast China in 2009. Information on respiratory health was obtained using a standard questionnaire from the American Thoracic Society. Routine air-pollution monitoring data was used for particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 µm (PM(10)), sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), nitrogen dioxides (NO(2)), ozone (O(3)) and carbon monoxide (CO). A two-stage regression approach was applied in data analyses. The effect estimates were presented as odds ratios (ORs) per interquartile changes for PM(10), SO(2), NO(2), O(3), and CO. The results showed that children with allergic predisposition were more susceptible to air pollutants than children without allergic predisposition. Amongst children without an allergic predisposition, air pollution effects on asthma were stronger in males compared to females; Current asthma prevalence was related to PM(10) (ORs = 1.36 per 31 µg/m(3); 95% CI, 1.08-1.72), SO(2) (ORs = 1.38 per 21 µg/m(3); 95%CI, 1.12-1.69) only among males. However, among children with allergic predisposition, more positively associations between air pollutants and respiratory symptoms and diseases were detected in females; An increased prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma was significantly associated with SO(2) (ORs = 1.48 per 21 µg/m(3); 95%CI, 1.21-1.80), NO(2) (ORs = 1.26 per 10 µg/m(3); 95%CI, 1.01-1.56), and current asthma with O(3) (ORs = 1.55 per 23 µg/m(3); 95%CI, 1.18-2.04) only among females. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Ambient air pollutions were more evident in males without an allergic predisposition and more associations were detected in females with allergic predisposition.

Abstract Object Meteorological parameters are the important factors influencing the infectious diseases like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This study aims to explore the association between coronavirus disease (COVID-19) death and weather parameters. Methods In this study, we collected the daily death number of COVID-19, meteorological and air pollutant data from 20 January, 2020 to 29 February, 2020 in Wuhan, China. Then, the generalized additive model was applied to explore the impact of temperature, humidity and diurnal temperature range on daily mortality of COVID-19. Results There were in total 2299 COVID-19 mortality counts in Wuhan. A positive association with COVID-19 mortality was observed for diurnal temperature range (r = 0.44), but negative association for relative humidity (r = −0.32). In addition, each 1 unit increase in diurnal temperature range was only associated with a 2.92% (95% CI: 0.61%, 5.28%) increase in COVID-19 mortality at lag 3. However, both per 1 unit increase of temperature and absolute humidity were related to the decreased COVID-19 mortality at lag 3 and lag 5, respectively. Conclusion In summary, this study suggests the temperature variation and humidity may be important factors affecting the COVID-19 mortality.

BACKGROUND: Concentrations of ambient air pollution and pollutants in China have changed considerably during the last decade. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of current ambient air pollution on the health of kindergarten children. METHODS: We studied 6730 Chinese children (age, 3-7 years) from 50 kindergartens in 7 cities of Northeast China in 2009. Parents or guardians completed questionnaires that asked about the children's histories of respiratory symptoms and risk factors. Three-year concentrations of particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 µm (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxides (NO2) were calculated at monitoring stations in 25 study districts. A 2-stage regression approach was used in data analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher among children living near a busy road, those living near chimneys or a factory, those having a coal-burning device, those living with smokers, and those living in a home that had been recently renovated. Among girls, PM10 was associated with persistent cough (odds ratio [OR]PM10 = 1.44; 95% CI, 1.18-1.77), persistent phlegm (ORPM10 = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.02-1.81), and wheezing (ORPM10 = 1.31; 95% CI, 1.04-1.65). NO2 concentration was associated with increased prevalence of allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.96; 95% CI, 1.27-3.02) among girls. In contrast, associations of respiratory symptoms with concentrations of PM10, SO2, and NO2 were not statistically significant among boys. CONCLUSIONS: Air pollution is particularly important in the development of respiratory morbidity among children. Girls may be more susceptible than boys to air pollution.

The objective of the study was to assess the effects of housing characteristics and home environmental factors on respiratory symptoms of Chinese children. A cross-sectional study of 3945 children aged 1-6-years-old was conducted at 24 randomly selected kindergartens in Liaoning province, northeast China during April 2007. Information on respiratory symptoms (persistent cough, persistent phlegm, doctor-diagnosed asthma, current asthma, current wheeze and allergic rhinitis) and exposures to home environmental factors was obtained by a standard questionnaire from the American Thoracic Society. We used Chi-square tests, multivariate logistic regression models and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for estimates of the risk of respiratory symptoms. Results suggested that the prevalence of asthma-related symptoms was higher for those who lived along the main stem of traffic, and houses near a pollution source. Lower prevalence rates of respiratory morbidity were associated with households with a larger area of residence and more rooms. Pet keeping was associated with doctor-diagnosed asthma (OR = 1.45; 95% CI, 1.03-2.06). Among boys, home decorations significantly increased the risk of doctor-diagnosed asthma (OR = 1.71; 95% CI, 1.21-2.41), current asthma (OR = 1.80; 95% CI, 1.10-2.94) and current wheeze (OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.31-2.50). Environmental tobacco smoke, pests and visible mold on walls were associated with the occurrence of asthma symptoms, especially in boys. Based upon the findings of this study, it is concluded that home environmental factors are particularly important for the development of respiratory morbidity among children. Boys may be more susceptible to home environmental factors than girls.