Work

Impact of air pollution exposure in early life on lung function development in the COPSAC cohorts

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with reduced lung function in children and may also impair lung function development in early life.Objectives We examined associations of long-term exposure to air pollution with lung function at age 6 and lung function development from early childhood until young adulthood.Methods We modelled concentrations of the particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from multiple sources at the home addresses of the participants (N=846) of the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood cohorts from 2000 and 2010 in Denmark. Lung function was measured by spirometry and plethysmography repeatedly from 3 to 18 years of age. Associations were estimated with adjusted linear mixed-effects regression models.Results A higher long-term exposure to air pollution in early life was associated with reduced lung function at age 6. For instance, an IQR of 2.2 μg/m 3 increment in postnatal exposure to PM2.5 was associated with a 2.70% (95% CI 4.27% to 1.10%) lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and 7.30% (95% CI 1.87% to 13.07%) higher specific airway resistance. This mirrored reduced lung function and increased airway resistance development rates throughout childhood. Associations for airway restrictions were stronger for males than females.Conclusions Early life exposure to ambient air pollution was associated with the development of reduced lung function and increased airway resistance throughout childhood.

Source: BMJ Open Respiratory Research

DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2025-003297