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Solar and geomagnetic activity reduces pulmonary function and enhances particulate pollution effects

Anand, Kritika ; Vieira, Carolina L.Z. ; Garshick, Eric ; Wang, Veronica ; Blomberg, Annelise LU orcid ; Gold, Diane R. ; Schwartz, Joel ; Vokonas, Pantel and Koutrakis, Petros (2022) In Science of the Total Environment 838.
Abstract

Background: Increased solar and geomagnetic activity (SGA) may alter sympathetic nervous system activity, reduce antioxidant activity, and modulate physiochemical processes that contribute to atmospheric aerosols, all which may reduce pulmonary function. Objectives: Investigate associations between forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) with SGA, and assess whether SGA enhances adverse effects of particulate pollution, black carbon (BC) and particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5). Methods: We conducted a repeated measures analysis in 726 Normative Aging Study participants (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) between 2000 and 2017, using interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), planetary K... (More)

Background: Increased solar and geomagnetic activity (SGA) may alter sympathetic nervous system activity, reduce antioxidant activity, and modulate physiochemical processes that contribute to atmospheric aerosols, all which may reduce pulmonary function. Objectives: Investigate associations between forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) with SGA, and assess whether SGA enhances adverse effects of particulate pollution, black carbon (BC) and particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5). Methods: We conducted a repeated measures analysis in 726 Normative Aging Study participants (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) between 2000 and 2017, using interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), planetary K index (Kp), and sunspot number (SSN) as SGA measures. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess exposure moving averages up to 28 days for both SGA and pollution. Results: Increases in IMF, Kp Index and SSN from the day of the pulmonary function test averaged through day 28 of were associated with a significant decrement in FEV1 and FVC, after adjusting for potential confounders. There were greater effects for longer moving averages and enhanced effects of PM2.5 and BC on FEV1 and FVC with increased SGA. For example, for each inter-quartile increase (4.55 μg/m3) in average PM2.5 28 days before testing, low IMF (10th percentile: 3.2 nT) was associated with a −21.4 ml (95 % CI: −60.8, 18.1) and −7.1 ml (95 % CI: −37.7, 23·4) decrease in FVC and FEV1, respectively; high IMF (90th percentile: 9.0 nT) was associated with a −120.7 ml (95 % CI:-166.5, −74.9) and −78.6 ml (95 % CI: −114.3, −42·8) decrease in FVC and FEV1, respectively. Discussion: Increased periods of solar and geomagnetic activity may directly contribute to impaired pulmonary function and also enhance effects of PM2.5 and BC. Since exposure to solar activity is ubiquitous, stricter measures in reducing air pollution exposures are warranted, particularly in elderly populations.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Air pollution, Geomagnetic disturbance, Lung outcomes, Particulate matter, Pulmonary function, Solar activity, Solar radiation
in
Science of the Total Environment
volume
838
article number
156434
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:35660608
  • scopus:85132418414
ISSN
0048-9697
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156434
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
72fe7fcf-0572-486a-bb46-2558c1cd241b
date added to LUP
2022-09-23 15:00:13
date last changed
2024-04-15 19:23:21
@article{72fe7fcf-0572-486a-bb46-2558c1cd241b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Increased solar and geomagnetic activity (SGA) may alter sympathetic nervous system activity, reduce antioxidant activity, and modulate physiochemical processes that contribute to atmospheric aerosols, all which may reduce pulmonary function. Objectives: Investigate associations between forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV<sub>1</sub>) and forced vital capacity (FVC) with SGA, and assess whether SGA enhances adverse effects of particulate pollution, black carbon (BC) and particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>). Methods: We conducted a repeated measures analysis in 726 Normative Aging Study participants (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) between 2000 and 2017, using interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), planetary K index (Kp), and sunspot number (SSN) as SGA measures. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess exposure moving averages up to 28 days for both SGA and pollution. Results: Increases in IMF, Kp Index and SSN from the day of the pulmonary function test averaged through day 28 of were associated with a significant decrement in FEV<sub>1</sub> and FVC, after adjusting for potential confounders. There were greater effects for longer moving averages and enhanced effects of PM<sub>2.5</sub> and BC on FEV<sub>1</sub> and FVC with increased SGA. For example, for each inter-quartile increase (4.55 μg/m3) in average PM<sub>2.5</sub> 28 days before testing, low IMF (10th percentile: 3.2 nT) was associated with a −21.4 ml (95 % CI: −60.8, 18.1) and −7.1 ml (95 % CI: −37.7, 23·4) decrease in FVC and FEV<sub>1</sub>, respectively; high IMF (90th percentile: 9.0 nT) was associated with a −120.7 ml (95 % CI:-166.5, −74.9) and −78.6 ml (95 % CI: −114.3, −42·8) decrease in FVC and FEV<sub>1</sub>, respectively. Discussion: Increased periods of solar and geomagnetic activity may directly contribute to impaired pulmonary function and also enhance effects of PM<sub>2.5</sub> and BC. Since exposure to solar activity is ubiquitous, stricter measures in reducing air pollution exposures are warranted, particularly in elderly populations.</p>}},
  author       = {{Anand, Kritika and Vieira, Carolina L.Z. and Garshick, Eric and Wang, Veronica and Blomberg, Annelise and Gold, Diane R. and Schwartz, Joel and Vokonas, Pantel and Koutrakis, Petros}},
  issn         = {{0048-9697}},
  keywords     = {{Air pollution; Geomagnetic disturbance; Lung outcomes; Particulate matter; Pulmonary function; Solar activity; Solar radiation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Science of the Total Environment}},
  title        = {{Solar and geomagnetic activity reduces pulmonary function and enhances particulate pollution effects}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156434}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156434}},
  volume       = {{838}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}