The impact of traffic-related air pollution on lung function status and respiratory symptoms among children in Klang Valley, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Increasing the range of vehicles on traffic roads in the urban area has led to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) and is currently becoming the main concern for health, especially among children. The study aimed to determine associations between TRAP and respiratory health, also to identify the main factors that influenced them. A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among children in high and low traffic areas. Air quality monitoring was conducted in six primary schools. A set of standardized questionnaires was distributed to obtain respondents’ exposure history and respiratory health symptoms, while spirometry test was carried out to determine the lung function status. There were associations between TRAP and abnormality of FEV₁% among children. NO₂ was the main predictor that influenced both chest tightness and abnormality of FEV₁%. Children exposed to a high level of traffic-related air pollution have an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and abnormality of lung function.

KEYWORDS:

• Vulnerable population
• health effects
• NO₂
• chest tightness
• FEV₁

Acknowledgments

We wish to extend our gratitude to the school management and teachers of the primary schools for their cooperation and assistance during the data collection process, as well as parents and their children who had voluntarily participated in this study. NFS would like to acknowledge the scholarships provided by the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM/PEND/500-1/10/1) and Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM(BS)910801146118).

Ethics and consent

The study was presented to the ethics committee for research involving human subjects of Universiti Putra Malaysia with the reference number of JKEUPM-2018-278 and JKEUPM-2018-381. The respondents were asked to participate in the study voluntarily with permission from parents or guardians. Consent forms were given to be read and signed by parents or guardians. All respondents were given a choice to continue participating in the study or to pull out at any time. The information about respondents involved in this research remains confidential.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by Universiti Putra Malaysia Impact Putra Grant [Project Code: UPM/800-3/3/1/GPB/2018/9659700].