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Lung Function of Children at Three Sites of Varying Ambient Air Pollution Levels in Uganda: A Cross Sectional Comparative Study

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Listed:
  • Bruce J. Kirenga

    (Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
    Makerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda
    GRIAC-Primary Care, Department of General Practice and Elderly Care, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, EB79 Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Rebecca Nantanda

    (Makerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda)

  • Corina De Jong

    (GRIAC-Primary Care, Department of General Practice and Elderly Care, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, EB79 Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Levicatus Mugenyi

    (Makerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda)

  • Qingyu Meng

    (Departments of Urban-Global Public Health and Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA)

  • Gilbert Aniku

    (Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda)

  • Sian Williams

    (International Primary Care Respiratory Group, Aberdeen AB32 9AE, UK)

  • Hellen Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa

    (Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda)

  • Moses Kamya

    (Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda)

  • Stephan Schwander

    (Departments of Urban-Global Public Health and Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA)

  • Thys Van der Molen

    (GRIAC-Primary Care, Department of General Practice and Elderly Care, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, EB79 Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Vahid Mohsenin

    (Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA)

Abstract

Air pollution is a major cause of sub-optimal lung function and lung diseases in childhood and adulthood. In this study we compared the lung function (measured by spirometry) of 537 Ugandan children, mean age 11.1 years in sites with high (Kampala and Jinja) and low (Buwenge) ambient air pollution levels, based on the concentrations of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter (PM 2.5 ). Factors associated with lung function were explored in a multiple linear regression model. PM 2.5 level in Kampala, Jinja and Buwenge were 177.5 µg/m 3 , 96.3 µg/m 3 and 31.4 µg/m 3 respectively ( p = 0.0000). Respectively mean forced vital capacity as % of predicted (FVC%), forced expiratory volume in one second as % of predicted (FEV 1 %) and forced expiratory flow 25–75% as % of predicted (FEF 25–75 %) of children in high ambient air pollution sites (Kampala and Jinja) vs. those in the low ambient air pollution site (Buwenge subcounty) were: FVC% (101.4%, vs. 104.0%, p = 0.043), FEV 1 % (93.9% vs. 98.0, p = 0.001) and FEF 25–75 % (87.8 vs. 94.0, p = 0.002). The proportions of children whose %predicted parameters were less than 80% predicted (abnormal) were higher among children living in high ambient air pollution than those living in lower low ambient air pollutions areas with the exception of FVC%; high vs. low: FEV1 < 80%, %predicted (12.0% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.021) and FEF 25–75 < 80%, %predicted (37.7% vs. 29.3%, p = 0.052) Factors associated with lung function were (coefficient, p -value): FVC% urban residence (−3.87, p = 0.004), current cough (−2.65, p = 0.048), underweight (−6.62, p = 0.000), and overweight (11.15, p = 0.000); FEV 1 % underweight (−6.54, p = 0.000) and FEF 25–75 % urban residence (−8.67, p = 0.030) and exposure to biomass smoke (−7.48, p = 0.027). Children in study sites with high ambient air pollution had lower lung function than those in sites with low ambient air pollution. Urban residence, underweight, exposure to biomass smoke and cough were associated with lower lung function.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruce J. Kirenga & Rebecca Nantanda & Corina De Jong & Levicatus Mugenyi & Qingyu Meng & Gilbert Aniku & Sian Williams & Hellen Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa & Moses Kamya & Stephan Schwander & Thys Van der Molen, 2018. "Lung Function of Children at Three Sites of Varying Ambient Air Pollution Levels in Uganda: A Cross Sectional Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2653-:d:185572
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hartley, D., 2004. "Rural health disparities, population health, and rural culture," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(10), pages 1675-1678.
    2. Jagger, Pamela & Shively, Gerald, 2014. "Land use change, fuel use and respiratory health in Uganda," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 713-726.
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    1. Silver Onyango & Beth Parks & Simon Anguma & Qingyu Meng, 2019. "Spatio-Temporal Variation in the Concentration of Inhalable Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) in Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-12, May.

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