Associations of parental air pollution and greenness exposures with offspring asthma outcomes
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Air pollution and greenness impact respiratory health, but intergenerational effects remain unclear.We investigated whether pre-conception parental residential exposure to air pollution and greenness at age 20-44 years is associated with offspring asthma outcomes in the Lifespan and inter-generational respiratory effects of exposures to greenness and air pollution (Life-GAP) project. METHODS: ), and greenness (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI) were assigned to parental residential addresses in 1990, corresponding to 1-18 years prior to birth (mean: 6 years, SD: 5). We analyzed associations using generalized structural equation modelling (GSEM), with cluster-robust standard errors allowing for intra-family correlation, while adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Among offspring participants, 18% reported lifetime asthma, 9% active asthma, 8% asthma medication, 5% asthma attacks, and 37% any asthma symptom. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in parental residential NDVI exposure was associated with less lifetime asthma (OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.64, 0.98 per 0.3 units). Similar associations were observed for active asthma and asthma medication use. Associations of air pollution with asthma outcomes were inconclusive. CONCLUSION: Parental exposure to residential green spaces before conception was associated with lower asthma risk in offspring. Urban planning policies prioritizing green spaces may be a key public health intervention for future cities.
Source: Environmental Research
Authors: Robin M. Sinsamala, Alessandro Marcon, Randi J. Bertelsen, Simone Accordini, Jørgen Brandt, Lise M. Frohn, Camilla Geels, Thorarinn Gislason, Mathias Holm, Christer Janson, Andrei Malinovschi, Iana Markevych, Hans Orru, Anna Oudin, Francisco Gomez Real, Torben Sigsgaard, Svein M. Skulstad, Cecilie Svanes, Ane Johannessen
Institutions: University of Bergen, University of Verona, Aarhus University, University of Iceland, National University Hospital of Iceland, University of Gothenburg, Uppsala University, Jagiellonian University, Medical University Plovdiv, University of Tartu, Umeå University, Haukeland University Hospital, Danish Ramazzini Center
Language: English
Topic: Urban Green Space and Health
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,880
Funders: Odd Berg Medical Research Foundation, Aarhus Universitet, Danmarks Lungeforening, Trond Mohn stiftelse, European Commission, Eesti Teadusfondi, Forskningsrådet för Arbetsliv och Socialvetenskap, Eesti Teadusagentuur, Hjärt-Lungfonden, NordForsk, Universitetet i Bergen, Háskóli Íslands, Norges Forskningsråd, Astma- och Allergiförbundet, Bror Hjerpstedts stiftelse, Norges Astma- og Allergiforbund, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Medical Research Council, European Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Arbejdstilsynet, Horizon 2020
Awards: Do exposures before conception influence the risk of asthma in offspring?, G1204034970, G1468553235, RHINESSA Generation Study: Trans-generational and life-course perspective on environmental and life-style factors in relation to asthma, allergy and COPD, G1734867381, G2034473645, G2637171107, Understanding the link between Air pollution and Distribution of related Health Impacts and Welfare in the Nordic countries, G309685139, G3499480339, G4054117976, G4281677097, G434337789, G4572222137, G473723495, G5352035906, G5454627851, G587441984, G6100487358, G6921403728, G6931823455, G7129215306, G8301446042, G915675306, G97170905
OpenAlex ID: W4408186086