Coarse particulate matter and lung function among neighbors of industrial hog operations

The influence of PM10 and PM2.5 on lung function has been well established whereas the association between pulmonary health and coarse fraction has been mixed. Sources of coarse particles have been primarily studied as cockroach allergen or roadside dust. This study aims to investigate the association between lung function and coarse particulate matter from agriculture farming practices. A repeated measure designed study was conducted in Eastern North Carolina where 52 participants located in twelve different neighborhoods were followed for two week, providing pulmonary measurements (one second forced expiratory volume, FEV1 and Peak Expiratory Flow, PEF) twice daily during September 2003 – August 2005. Dicot filter samplers were used to collect 12 hour coarse and fine PM. The majority of participants were African American (79%), female (64%) and 40-69 years of age (69.3%). Mean FEV1 was 2.08 (standard deviation = 0.79) and PEF = 399.18 (113.77) and varied across study site (FEV1range 1.41- 2.96 liter/minute; PEFrange 268.32 – 559.13). Mean concentration of coarse particulate matter also varied by site (3.29 ì/m3–10.49 ì/m3). Using mixed models to evaluate within-person and within-community relationships between coarse particles and FEV1/PEF, we will consider exposure lags and potentially modifying effects of wind speed, temperature and humidity on coarse particulate matter and endotoxin on prevalent respiratory disease.