DSS and Asthma
Since there are few studies on the adverse effects of DSS (AD) on respiratory function in children, this study was being conducted to investigate the association between AD and respiratory function by measuring the maximum expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in children with asthma.
2014-2016.
The study was conducted between March and May and 110 children with bronchial asthma were recruited from four hospitals in the Goto Islands and southern Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Parents were asked to record their child's PEFR and clinical symptoms in an asthma diary every morning/evening; AD was assessed from light detection and ranging data, and the effect of AD on daily PEFR was estimated using a linear mixed-effects model.
A time-stratified case-crossover analysis was performed to examine the association between AD and asthma attacks as defined by the level of PEFR decline.
Results.
AD was detected on 11 days in the Goto Islands and 23 days in southern Nagasaki, and we found a consistent association between AD and a 1.1% to 1.7% decrease in PEFR in the morning and a 0.7% to 1.3% decrease in the evening with a 0 to 0 lag, after adjusting for age, sex, body temperature, and daily oxidants.
AD was not associated with the number of asthma attacks, respiratory symptoms, or other symptoms at any of the lag days studied.
In conclusion, they found a decrease in maximal expiratory flow rate, but not enough to cause clinical symptoms in well-controlled asthmatic children.
Nakamura, T., Nishiwaki, Y., Hashimoto, K. et al. Association between Asian dust exposure and respiratory function in children with bronchial asthma in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Environ Health Prev Med 25, 8 (2020). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-020-00846-9
Summary
It was concluded that DSS has no effect on children with asthma symptoms, but a decrease in maximum expiratory flow rate was observed, which means that there is an effect, but not a negative effect.
The study did not show any negative effects on healthy children, so this was the result of the observation period, but it may change if the amount of DSS increases in the future.In addition, the study considered the possibility that there was an error in the measurement or misclassification of exposure, but it can be said that the research results are sufficient.
