Relationship between Individual PM_2.5 Exposure and Lung Function in the Elderly

Objectives To analyze the relationship between individual PM_2.5 exposure and lung function of the elderly, and provide data for carrying out health risk assessment of the population and formulating relevant health protection policies.

Methods A panel study was conducted from Sept 10^th, 2018 to Jan 21^th, 2019 in an urban community. Participants were (60~69) years old, who lived in the community for at least 2 years and had a regular daily work and rest schedule, fixed activity scope, good cooperation degree. Excluding the elderly with smoking, alcohol abuse, overweight and obesity, cardiopulmonary diseases, diabetes and other basic diseases. A total of 76 subjects were eligible. The information, such as age, gender, height, weight, education, income were collected from questionnaire. Subjects were requested to have five monthly lung function measurements. Real time concentrations of PM_2.5 were from RPPM_2.5system. Linear mixed models were applied to analyze the association between PM_2.5 and lung function.

Results The median of PM_2.5 is 47.86 μg/m³. The median of FVC, FEV₁ was 3.14 and 2.30 L, and the median of FVC/FEV₁ was 76.93%, the median of FEF_25%, FEF_50% and FEF_75% were 4.63, 2.58 and 0.96 L/s, respectively. Each 10 μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 concentration on 3 days prior to Lung function, FVC、FEV₁ and FEV₁/FVC decreased 0.08% (95% CI: -0.28, 0.12, P=0.45), 0.06% (95% CI: -0.3, 0.2, P=0.67) and 0.05% (95% CI: -0.2, 0.2, P=0.99), respectively.

Conclusions The study founds no significant effect of daily PM_2.5 exposure on lung function in the elderly.