Respiratory adverse effects of the particles during dust storm in China Dept. Occupational & Environmental Health Peking University School of Public Health Xiaochuan Pan, Cooperated with National Institute of Environmental Research, Korea (NIER)

Background  As we know, the dust (sand) storm is a kind of natural phenomena happening more often in Asian countries in recent years.  The previous studies have found that the level of particles in ambient air could increase dramatically during happening of the dust storm and may have health effects on the exposed population.  To further study the respiratory adverse effects of the particles from the dust storm on schoolchildren, since 2004 a joint project was conducted by the Environmental Epidemiology Division in National Institute of Environmental Research, Korea (NIER) and the Dept. of Occupational and Environmental Health in Peking University School of Public Health, China (PKUSPH) …

Methods  Air sampling for PM10 and PM2.5: taking with the filter sampler (model PM10-2, flux: 78 L/min) respectively in Baotou and Qingdao, China. At the same time, the daily data of air pollution and the weather in 2 cities were collected from the local EPA.  The mass concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 were calculated according to the standard method and procedures. The inorganic and metals elements of the particles were measured with Atomic Absorption Spectrum, X-fluorescence analysis and ICP-MS instruments.

Methods 2  Measure of respiratory functions: over 300 elementary schoolchildren in Baotou, Kunming and Qingdao cities were selected for the measure. Using Micro Spiro HI-601 lung function apparatus of CHEST M.I.INC, we measured the lung function indices of FVC, FEV1.0, FEV1.0/FVC, PEF25-75 and PEF for the subjects with the procedure reference to America Thorax Society (ATS). 3 times measure and then the best value was selected as result. The other relevant factors would be written down in the records at the time of measurement.

Methods 3  Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) test: under the supervision of the teachers, the every schoolchildren in Baotou and Qingdao cities measured themselves with Mini-Wright peak flow meter, 3 times a day for 40 days continuously in the period of the dust storm.  Data analysis: EpiData 3.0 database for data input, analyzed by SPSS 12.0 for windows.

Results

Tab. the demography of the subjects in three cities of China BaotouKunmingQingdao variablesSexNS.DN N age （ yrs ） M F Height （ cm ） M F weight （ kg ） M F

The air quality during the dust storm in subject areas of China

Fig.1 The air pollutant level in Baotou city in March 28-May 6, 2005

Fig.2 The meteorological factors in Baotou

Fig.2 The level of the air pollutants in Qingdao city in April to May, 2005

Fig. 3 The level of the air particulate matter in the Qingdao city

The lung functions of the children

Tab.1 The pulmonary functions of the schoolchildren by sex in Baotou variablessexN —x—x S．DS．D t valueP value age （ years ） Male ** Female Height （ cm ） Male * Female weight （ kg ） Male ** Female FVC (L)Male ** Female FEV 1.0 (L)Male ** Female

Tab.2 The pulmonary function levels of the schoolchildren by sex in Baotou (continued) variablessexN —x—x S.Dt valueP value FEV 1.0 /FVC (%)Male Female PEF 0.25~0.75 (L/S)Male Female PEF (L/S)Male female

Tab.3 the coefficients between the lung functions and other factors of the schoolchildren in Baotou, China heightweightFVCFEV 1.0 FEV 1.0 /FVC PEF 0.25~0.75 PEF height 1 weight.666**1 FVC.526**.459**1 FEV **.536**.838**1 FEV 1.0 /FVC *-.655**-.189*1 PEF 0.25~ ** **.603**1 PEF.258** **.457** **1 ** P< 0.01 (2-tailed). * P< 0.05 (2-tailed).

Tab.4 the pulmonary functions of the schoolchildren by sex in Qingdao variablesSexN —x—x S．DS．D t valueP value age （ year ） Male Female Height （ cm ） Male Female weight （ kg ） Male Female FVC (L)Male * Female FEV 1.0 (L)Male Female

Tab.5 the pulmonary functions of the schoolchildren by sex in Qingdao (continued) variablesSexN —x—x S．DS．D t valueP value FEV 1.0 /FVC (%)Male * Female PEF 0.25~0.75 (L/S)Male Female PEF (L/S)Male female

Tab. 6 the correlations between the lung functions and other factors for the children in Qingdao city heightweightFVCFEV 1.0 FEV 1.0 / FVCPEF 0.25~0.75 PEF height 1 weight.630**1 FVC.540**.426**1 FEV **.433**.825**1 FEV 1.0 /FVC ** PEF 0.25~ * **.721**1 PEF *.468**.263**.489**1 ** P< 0.01 (2-tailed). * P< 0.05 (2-tailed).

Tab. 7 the pulmonary functions of the schoolchildren by sex in Kunming, China variablesSexN —x—x S．DS．D t valueP value age （ year ） Male Female Height （ cm ） Male ** Female weight （ kg ） Male * Female FVC (L)Male ** Female FEV 1.0 (L)Male ** Female

Tab.8 the pulmonary function levels of the schoolchildren by sex in Kunming, China (continued) variablesSexN —x—x S．DS．D t valueP value FEV 1.0 /FVC (%)Male * Female PEF 0.25~0.75 (L/S)Male Female PEF (L/S)Male ** Female

Tab. 9 the coefficients between the lung functions and other factors of the schoolchildren in Kunming heightweightFVCFEV 1.0 FEV 1.0 /FVCPEF 0.25~0.75 PEF height 1 weight.705**1 FVC.744**.590**1 FEV **.560**.846**1 FEV 1.0 /FVC -.249* **.1751 PEF 0.25~ *.331**.253*.664**.758**1 PEF.296**.388**.407**.636**.400**.678**1 ** P< 0.01 (2-tailed). * P< 0.05 (2-tailed).

Tab.10 The pulmonary functions of the children in three cities of China variablessex BaotouKunmingQingdao NS.DN N FVC (L)M F FEV 1.0 (L)M F FEV 1.0 /FVC (%) M F

The PEF levels of the children

Fig. 4 the average PEFR values of the schoolchildren for 40 days in Baotou

Tab. 11 The average PEFR levels of the children for 40 days in Baotou ( L/min) timeSex NMeanS. D P value Morning Male <0.001* Female Noon Male # Female Evening Male <0.001^ Female Mean Male Female *: t-test; Morning/Noon; #: noon/evening; ^: morning/evening

Tab. 12 The average PEF level of the children (L/min) by sex in Qingdao TimeSexNMeanS.DP value Morning Male ． 662 ． 8 <0.001* Female ． 562 ． 3 Noon Male ． 261 ． 8 <0.05# Female ． 665 ． 8 Night Male ． 862 ． 1 <0.001^ Female ． 466 ． 4 Total Male ． 261 ． 9 female ． 264 ． 5 *: t-test, noon/morning; #: night/noon; ^: night/morning

Tab.13 The coefficients between air pollutant levels and the PEFR levels (lag 0) of the children in Baotou PM10PM2.5CONO2SO2 PEF-0.394*-0.416** P value **: Pearson correlation: P< 0.01, *:P< 0.05

Summary  The levels of air PM10 and PM2.5 increased significantly when the dust storm occurred. However, It seems that the level of the other air pollutants are not associated with the happenings of the dust storm.  The pulmonary functions of the children are closely associated with their body weight and height; they were unlikely impacted by the air pollution at present level in three cities of China.

Summary  The daily PEFR levels of the children in Baotou are negatively associated with the PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 levels statistic significantly.  Our results suggest that the fine particles from the dust storm may impact the respiratory health of the exposed children.  The health effects of dust storm maybe complicated with many confounding factors, which should be considered and controlled carefully.

acknowledgement  This study was supported by Baotou Medical College, Qingdao CDC and Kunming medical College for the collection of air monitoring data and field survey.