Nasal inflammation and personal exposure to fine particles PM2.5 in asthmatic children

Background

Outdoor and indoor air pollutants are suspected to induce harmful effects on respiratory health, raising the question of their involvement in allergic asthma and rhinitis.

Objective

The potential effect of short-term personal exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) on nasal inflammation was examined in children living in the Paris area.

Methods

Forty-one children with allergic asthma and 44 healthy children participated in this study. They were monitored during 48 hours for their personal exposure to PM2.5. At the end of the measurement period, children underwent one nasal lavage. Nasal lavage fluid was investigated for cellular (neutrophils and eosinophils) and soluble (albumin, urea, elastase, α1-antitrypsin, IL-6, and IL-8) mediators.

Results

Pollutant concentrations did not differ between the 2 groups. In asthmatic subjects, but not in healthy children, personal PM2.5 levels were correlated to nasal percentage of eosinophils and to albumin, urea, and α1-antitrypsin concentrations after adjustment for confounders (age, sex, house dust mites, pollens, cat, environmental tobacco smoke through urinary cotinine, barometric pressure, and respiratory infection).

Conclusion

The association observed with the percentage of eosinophils supports recent speculations on fine particle involvement in allergic phenotype overexpression.

Clinical implications

This study highlights the link between personal fine particle exposures and nasal inflammation in asthmatic allergic children living in urban areas. Because the view of united airways is still not completely understood, the question of pulmonary inflammation in such a situation deserves further investigation.

Key words: Nasal lavage fluid, inflammation, allergy, asthma, eosinophil, children, personal exposure, fine particle, PM2.5

Abbreviations used: DEP, Diesel exhaust particle, ETS, Environmental tobacco smoke, NAL, Nasal lavage, NALF, Nasal lavage fluid, PM, Particulate matter, PM2.5, Particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 μm, PM10, Particulate matter with diameter less than 10 μm