Traffic Pollution and Respiratory Diseases in Southern Sweden
Author Information
Author(s): Anna Lindgren, Emilie Stroh, Peter Montnémery, Ulf Nihlén, Kristina Jakobsson, Anna Axmon
Primary Institution: Lund University
Hypothesis
Is there an association between residential traffic-related air pollution and the prevalence of asthma and COPD in adults?
Conclusion
Living close to traffic is linked to higher rates of asthma and COPD diagnoses, indicating both short-term and long-term effects of traffic-related air pollution on respiratory diseases.
Supporting Evidence
- Living within 100 m of a road with more than 10 cars per minute was associated with a 40% increased odds of asthma diagnosis.
- Self-reported traffic exposure was linked to higher rates of asthma and COPD diagnoses.
- Annual average NOx levels were associated with COPD diagnosis and symptoms of asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Takeaway
If you live near busy roads, you might have a higher chance of having asthma or breathing problems because of the pollution from cars.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study using a postal questionnaire and GIS to assess traffic exposure and respiratory health in adults aged 18-77.
Potential Biases
Self-reported exposure may be biased as individuals might over-report living close to traffic due to awareness of its health impacts.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, limiting the ability to establish temporal relationships between exposure and disease onset.
Participant Demographics
Participants were adults aged 18-77, with a response rate of 78% from a total of 11933 individuals surveyed.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 1.04–1.89 for asthma; 95% CI = 1.11–2.4 for COPD
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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