TOPLINE:

Higher ozone exposure in the first 2 years of life was associated with increased odds of developing asthma and wheeze at age 4-6 years, even in areas with relatively low ozone concentrations. The mean ozone concentration of 26.1 parts per billion (ppb) was linked to 12.3% current asthma and 15.8% current wheeze rates.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a pooled, multisite analysis using data from a program that investigated the impact of environmental influences on child health; 1188 children were included from six US cities.
• The analysis examined the effects of ozone exposure in the surrounding environment in each patient’s first 2 years of life, using a model that tracked where each child lived over time and estimated pollution levels based on their location.
• Caregivers filled out surveys on asthma and wheeze for their children at age 4-6 years and again at age 8-9 years.

TAKEAWAY:

• The mean ozone concentration was 26.1 ppb.
• At age 4-6 years, 12.3% of children (148 out of 1188) had asthma and 15.8% (190 out of 1188) had wheeze.
• For every 2 ppb increase in ozone, at age 4-6 years, the odds of having asthma increased by 31% (95% CI, 1.02-1.68), and the odds of having wheezing increased by 30% (95% CI, 1.05-1.64).
• No statistically significant associations were found between ozone levels and asthma or wheezing at age 89 years.

IN PRACTICE:

“Understanding the influence of postnatal O3 on the development of pediatric asthma is important as it represents the criteria air pollutant most commonly exceeded among US children,” the study authors wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Logan Dearborn, MPH, from the University of Washington in Seattle. It was published online on April 2 in JAMA Network Open.

LIMITATIONS:

No personal or indoor measurements of ozone levels were available. The study relied on caregiver reports. Some indoor factors were not measured, and differences between neighborhoods may not have been accounted for, which may have affected the results.

DISCLOSURES:

One of the study authors reported receiving grants from the Health Effects Institute outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.