Effects of PM

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between PM(2.5) and NO(2) pollutants and oxidative stress marker (8-isoprostane) and lung function tests (FVC and FEV(1)) in healthy children who were living and studying in three different areas of Ahvaz city including A(1): Naderi site with high traffic, A(2): Alavi Alley site with average traffic, and A(3): Ein 2 site with low traffic (a rural area on the suburb of Ahvaz). 30 students in the 12–13 year-old range were selected from each studied zone (1, 2 and 3 sites) during three months of year. Of each student, one sample was taken every two weeks to measure 8-isoprostane of exhaled breath condensate (EBC). Air pollution data were collected from three air quality monitoring stations. Also, the relationship between air pollution and 8-isoprostane as well as lung function tests were determined using generalized estimating equations (GEE). The mean concentration of PM(2.5) and NO(2) in A(1), A(2) and A(3) areas were 116, 92 and 45 (μg/m(3)) also 77, 53 and 14 (ppb) respectively. Among all studied students, there was a significant correlation between the increase of mean concentration of PM(2.5) and NO(2) in 1–4 before sampling day, increased 8-isoprostane concentration and decreased FEV(1), while there was no significant correlation between them and decreased FVC. In A(1) site, an increase in IQR (13 μg/m(3)) PM(2.5) and IQR (6.5 ppb) NO(2) on 1–4 days before sampling was associated with 0.38 unit (95% CI: 0.11, 0.65) and 1.1 unit (95% CI: 0.85, 1.35) increase in 8-isoprostane concentration, also decreased 121 ml and 190 ml FEV(1), respectively. Results showed that the short-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution can decrease the values of lung function indices and increase the oxidative stress. It may adversely affect children’s lungs.