Estimated Traffic-Related Black Carbon Exposure Predicts Decreased Lung Function Among Women

ISEE-679 Objective: We examined the relationship between black carbon, a surrogate of mobile sources, and lung function among women in the Maternal-Infant Smoking Study of East Boston (MISSEB), an urban cohort in Boston, MA. Materials and Methods: Local black carbon levels were estimated using a validated spatiotemporal land use regression model, derived using ambient and indoor monitor data based on residence during study follow up. Our model allows for nonlinear effects of covariates and for unexplained spatial and temporal variability in exposure. Associations between percent-predicted pulmonary function and predicted black carbon were examined using linear regression adjusting for race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, smoking status, and asthma diagnosis. Results: The sample of 317 women aged 18 to 42 years included 52% who primarily spoke Spanish at home, 41% with less than a high school education, and 18% who were current smokers. Mean ± SD predicted annual black carbon exposure level was 0.58 + 0.2 μg/m3; mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 2.62 L ± 0.4; mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 3.09 L ± 0.4 and mean forced mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF25%–75%) was 3.24 L/s ± 0.8. In adjusted analysis, black carbon (per interquartile range) was associated with a 2.6 (95% CI −4.7, −0.4) decrease in FEV1 a 2.0 (95% CI −4.0, −0.04) decrease in FVC and a 4.0 (95% CI −8.2, 0.1) decrease in FEF25%–75%. Conclusions: In this cohort exposure to traffic-related black carbon, a component of particulate matter, independently predicted decreased lung function in these urban women, when adjusting for tobacco smoke, asthma diagnosis, and socioeconomic status. Funding: T32ES007142, R01 HL080674.