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

2. 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) …

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Results

7. Tab. the demography of the subjects in three cities of China BaotouKunmingQingdao variablesSexNS.DN N age （ yrs ） M 68 9.60.53 45 9.20.48 59 10.10.55 F569.30.51569.30.536010.00.52 Height （ cm ） M 68 139.35.62 47 133.24.80 59 140.54.85 F 58 137.16.69 56 130.35.57 60 142.05.87 weight （ kg ） M 68 35.88.04 47 29.66.13 59 37.16.03 F5832.25.625627.29.006038.88.00

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

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

10. Fig.2 The meteorological factors in Baotou

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

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

13. The lung functions of the children

14. Tab.1 The pulmonary functions of the schoolchildren by sex in Baotou variablessexN —x—x S．DS．D t valueP value age （ years ） Male 68 9.60.53 2.8570.005** Female 56 9.30.51 Height （ cm ） Male 68 139.35.62 2.0770.04* Female 58 137.16.69 weight （ kg ） Male 68 35.88.04 2.938 0.004** Female 58 32.25.62 FVC (L)Male 68 2.040.384 2.797 0.006** Female 56 1.830.439 FEV 1.0 (L)Male 68 1.840.277 3.0970.002** Female 56 1.690.258

15. 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 68 91.136.975 -1.876 0.063 Female 56 93.698.210 PEF 0.25~0.75 (L/S)Male 68 2.280.541 -0.0011.000 Female 56 2.280.577 PEF (L/S)Male 68 3.920.793 0.3060.760 female 56 3.870.851

16. 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 1.0.688**.536**.838**1 FEV 1.0 /FVC -.051-.195*-.655**-.189*1 PEF 0.25~0.75.331**.093-.006.408**.603**1 PEF.258**.165.250**.457**.153.545**1 ** P< 0.01 (2-tailed). * P< 0.05 (2-tailed).

17. Tab.4 the pulmonary functions of the schoolchildren by sex in Qingdao variablesSexN —x—x S．DS．D t valueP value age （ year ） Male 59 10.10.55 0.3500.727 Female 60 10.00.52 Height （ cm ） Male 59 140.54.85 -1.5220.131 Female 60 142.05.87 weight （ kg ） Male 59 37.16.03 -1.2840.202 Female 60 38.88.00 FVC (L)Male 59 2.300.394 2.2860.024* Female 59 2.150.342 FEV 1.0 (L)Male 59 1.950.252 1.3640.175 Female 59 1.890.259

18. 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 59 85.517.485 -2.155 0.033* Female 59 88.296.460 PEF 0.25~0.75 (L/S)Male 59 2.110.490 -1.6750.097 Female 59 2.270.548 PEF (L/S)Male 59 3.780.838 0.7580.450 female 59 3.670.749

19. 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 1.0.580**.433**.825**1 FEV 1.0 /FVC -.148-.158-.616**-.0941 PEF 0.25~0.75.201*.160-.057.448**.721**1 PEF.117.084.228*.468**.263**.489**1 ** P< 0.01 (2-tailed). * P< 0.05 (2-tailed).

20. 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 45 9.20.48 -0.4040.687 Female 56 9.30.53 Height （ cm ） Male 47 133.24.80 2.8600.005** Female 56 130.35.57 weight （ kg ） Male 47 29.66.13 2.1360.035* Female 56 27.25.00 FVC (L)Male 45 1.930.333 3.4290.001** Female 55 1.730.252 FEV 1.0 (L)Male 45 1.690.280 3.6450.000** Female 55 1.510.234

21. 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 45 88.317.516 0.498 0.620* Female 55 87.528.070 PEF 0.25~0.75 (L/S)Male 45 1.920.430 1.4100.162 Female 55 1.790.513 PEF (L/S)Male 45 3.240.674 3.0070.003** Female 55 2.800.796

22. 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 1.0.648**.560**.846**1 FEV 1.0 /FVC -.249*-.092-.308**.1751 PEF 0.25~0.75.211*.331**.253*.664**.758**1 PEF.296**.388**.407**.636**.400**.678**1 ** P< 0.01 (2-tailed). * P< 0.05 (2-tailed).

23. Tab.10 The pulmonary functions of the children in three cities of China variablessex BaotouKunmingQingdao NS.DN N FVC (L)M 68 2.040.384 45 1.930.333 59 2.300.394 F 56 1.830.439 55 1.730.252 59 2.150.342 FEV 1.0 (L)M 68 1.840.277 45 1.690.280 59 1.950.252 F 56 1.690.258 55 1.510.234 59 1.890.259 FEV 1.0 /FVC (%) M 68 91.136.975 45 88.317.516 59 85.517.485 F 56 93.698.210 55 87.528.070 59 88.296.460

24. The PEF levels of the children

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

26. Tab. 11 The average PEFR levels of the children for 40 days in Baotou ( L/min) timeSex NMeanS. D P value Morning Male 49271.742.4 0.171<0.001* Female 49260.240.2 Noon Male 49274.438.5 0.1570.390# Female 49263.040.7 Evening Male 47262.037.8 0.225<0.001^ Female 48271.739.8 Mean Male47271.238.2 0.227 Female48261.341.0 *: t-test; Morning/Noon; #: noon/evening; ^: morning/evening

27. Tab. 12 The average PEF level of the children (L/min) by sex in Qingdao TimeSexNMeanS.DP value Morning Male58 361 ． 662 ． 8 <0.001* Female62 346 ． 562 ． 3 Noon Male58 365 ． 261 ． 8 <0.05# Female62 349 ． 665 ． 8 Night Male58 365 ． 862 ． 1 <0.001^ Female62 354 ． 466 ． 4 Total Male58 364 ． 261 ． 9 female62 350 ． 264 ． 5 *: t-test, noon/morning; #: night/noon; ^: night/morning

28. 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**0.063-0.093-0.070 P value0.0130.0080.7020.5750.672 **: Pearson correlation: P< 0.01, *:P< 0.05

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. 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.