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A new study led by Fudan University and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that indoor air purification significantly improves respiratory health in children, especially in regions with high air pollution.
Respiratory diseases remain one of the leading causes of mortality in children, with exposure to fine particulate matter (FPM) linked to a higher risk of developing such conditions. However, the full benefits of indoor air purification in mitigating these risks have not been thoroughly explored until now.
The research, titled Respiratory Benefits of Multisetting Air Purification in Children: A Cluster Randomized Crossover Trial, was published in JAMA Pediatrics. The study involved 79 healthy school-aged children, aged 10 to 12 years, living in areas with high levels of air pollution. The trial assessed the effects of air purification in both classrooms and bedrooms over a two-month period (76 days), followed by a washout period of 88 days.
Results from the trial demonstrated that personal exposure to FPM decreased by 45.14% during active air purification periods, compared to times when no purification was taking place. More notably, the study found significant improvements in respiratory function during air purification. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) increased by 8.04%, peak expiratory flow rose by 16.52%, and forced vital capacity (FVC) improved by 5.73%. Additionally, fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels, a marker for airway inflammation, dropped by 22.38%.
The research also highlighted key metabolites such as L-tyrosine and β-alanine, which were identified as mediators of the respiratory benefits associated with air purification. These findings underscore the potential of air purification technologies in protecting children’s respiratory health, especially in high-pollution areas, while more systemic improvements in outdoor air quality are needed.
The study concludes that intensifying indoor air purification in schools and homes could be a vital measure for safeguarding children’s respiratory health in regions where outdoor air quality remains poor. This could serve as a temporary solution until broader efforts are made to address air pollution on a larger scale.
The study, which is one of the first of its kind, offers compelling evidence for the role of air purification in mitigating the harmful effects of air pollution on children’s health.
For more details, the full study can be accessed in JAMA Pediatrics (DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.5049).
