News Release

Exposure to outdoor air pollutants, change in emphysema, lung function

Peer-Reviewed Publication

JAMA Network

Bottom Line: Whether exposure to outdoor air pollutants is associated with emphysema progression and change in lung function was the focus of this observational study. The study included 7,071 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis studies conducted in six U.S. metropolitan regions (New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; Baltimore; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and St. Paul, Minnesota). Computed tomographic (CT) scans were used to assess changes in emphysema (measured for density as a percentage of lung pixels) and lung function testing was done. Levels of outdoor air pollutants (ozone, fine particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen and black carbon) at each participant's home were estimated. Study authors report exposure to ambient air pollutants, especially ozone, was associated with increasing emphysema progression based on up to five repeated CT scans over 10 years. Ambient ozone exposure, but not the other pollutants, also was associated with decline in lung function. Limitations of the study include that outdoor air pollutant concentrations may not reflect everything about an individual's air pollutant exposures, and outdoor concentrations don't explain all of the variations in concentrations of pollutants indoors, where most people spend the majority of their time.

Authors: Joel D. Kaufman, M.D., M.P.H., University of Washington, Seattle, and coauthors

(doi:10.1001/jama.2019.10255)

Editor's Note: The article includes conflict of interest and funding/support disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

###

Media advisory: To contact corresponding author Joel D. Kaufman, M.D., M.P.H., email Jackson Holtz at jjholtz@uw.edu. The full study and video are linked to this news release. The video will be available shortly.

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article This link will be live at the embargo time: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2747669?guestAccessKey=cfba7399-ed6b-4ff3-abcd-260039916cd9&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=081319

Video embed code: [brightcove_embed bcvid="6060953580001"]


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.