Assessment of the Feasibility of a Future Integrated Larger-Scale Epidemiological Study to Evaluate Health Risks of Air Pollution Episodes in Children

Sarah J. D. Nauwelaerts, Koen De Cremer, Natalia Bustos Sierra, Mathieu Gand, Dirk Van Geel, Maud Delvoye, Els Vandermassen, Jordy Vercauteren, Christophe Stroobants, Alfred Bernard, Nelly D. Saenen, Tim S. Nawrot, Nancy H. C. Roosens and Sigrid C. J. De Keersmaecker
Additional contact information
Sarah J. D. Nauwelaerts: Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Koen De Cremer: Platform Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Natalia Bustos Sierra: Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Mathieu Gand: Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Dirk Van Geel: Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Maud Delvoye: Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Els Vandermassen: Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Jordy Vercauteren: Unit Air, Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
Christophe Stroobants: Unit Air, Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
Alfred Bernard: Centre for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, University Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
Nelly D. Saenen: Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Tim S. Nawrot: Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Nancy H. C. Roosens: Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Sigrid C. J. De Keersmaecker: Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-28

Abstract: Air pollution exposure can lead to exacerbation of respiratory disorders in children. Using sensitive biomarkers helps to assess the impact of air pollution on children’s respiratory health and combining protein, genetic and epigenetic biomarkers gives insights on their interrelatedness. Most studies do not contain such an integrated approach and investigate these biomarkers individually in blood, although its collection in children is challenging. Our study aimed at assessing the feasibility of conducting future integrated larger-scale studies evaluating respiratory health risks of air pollution episodes in children, based on a qualitative analysis of the technical and logistic aspects of a small-scale field study involving 42 children. This included the preparation, collection and storage of non-invasive samples (urine, saliva), the measurement of general and respiratory health parameters and the measurement of specific biomarkers (genetic, protein, epigenetic) of respiratory health and air pollution exposure. Bottlenecks were identified and modifications were proposed to expand this integrated study to a higher number of children, time points and locations. This would allow for non-invasive assessment of the impact of air pollution exposure on the respiratory health of children in future larger-scale studies, which is critical for the development of policies or measures at the population level.

Keywords: biomarkers; epidemiological studies; non-invasive; children; feasibility; air pollution; particulate matter; ozone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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