Effect of Air Pollutants Particulate Matter PM2.5, PM10, Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and Ozone (O3) on Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO).

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Environmental Pollutants Particulate Matter PM_2.5, PM₁₀, Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂), Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂), and Ozone (O₃) on lung airway inflammation by assessing the Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) in students studying in schools located in or away from air-polluted areas.

Methods: This matched case-control cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from August 2022 to July 2023. In this study, two schools were selected, one was located near a traffic-polluted area (School #1), and the second was located away from the traffic-polluted area (School #2). A total of 300 students were recruited, 150 (75 male and 75 female) students from the school located in a traffic-polluted area, and 150 students (75 male and 75 female) from the school located away from a traffic-polluted area. Environmental pollutants PM_2.5, PM₁₀, CO, NO₂, O₃, and SO₂, were recorded. The Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) was measured using a Niox Mino.

Results: The mean concentration of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, CO, NO₂, O₃, and SO₂ were 35.00±0.65 significantly higher in a school located in motor vehicle polluted area compared to a school located away from a motor vehicle-polluted area (29.95±0.32) (p=0.001). The mean values for FeNO were significantly higher (18.75±0.90) among students studying in a school located in the motor vehicle-polluted area compared to students studying in a school located away from the motor vehicle-polluted area (11.26±0.56) (p=0.001).

Conclusions: Environmental pollution can cause lung inflammation among students in schools located in traffic-polluted areas.