TY - JOUR
T1 - Non-Specific Abdominal Pain and Air Pollution
T2 - A Novel Association
AU - Kaplan, Gilaad G.
AU - Szyszkowicz, Mieczyslaw
AU - Fichna, Jakub
AU - Rowe, Brian H.
AU - Porada, Eugeniusz
AU - Vincent, Renaud
AU - Madsen, Karen
AU - Ghosh, Subrata
AU - Storr, Martin
PY - 2012/10/31
Y1 - 2012/10/31
N2 - Background: We studied whether short-term exposure to air pollution was associated with non-specific abdominal pain in epidemiologic and animal studies. Methods: Patients visiting the emergency department with non-specific abdominal pain were identified in Edmonton (1992 to 2002, n = 95,173) and Montreal (1997 to 2002, n = 25,852). We calculated the daily concentrations for ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particles <10 (PM10) or <2.5 (PM2.5) μm. A case crossover study design was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) associated with an increase in the interquartile range of the air pollutants. We investigated differential effects by age and sex. Mice were gavaged with urban particle extracts. In animal models, colonic motility was tested, and visceral abdominal pain was measured using a writhing test, and behavioral response to oil of mustard and neostigmine. Motility and pain was measured acutely (1.5 hours after gavage) and chronically (7-days and 21-days after gavage). Results: Emergency department visits for non-specific abdominal pain were primarily by women between the ages of 15-24 years. Individuals aged 15 to 24 years were at increased risk of non-specific abdominal pain in Edmonton (same day CO: OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02-1.06; and NO2: OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.03-1.09). The risk of air pollution among 15-24 year olds in Montreal was significantly positive (same day CO: OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.05-1.17; NO2: OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01-1.16; SO2: OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.10-1.25; PM2.5: OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.04-1.15). Abdominal pain was increased by an acute gavage of pollution extract but not to chronic exposure to pollutants. Colonic transit was delayed following chronic but not acute exposure with the pollutants. Conclusions: Epidemiological and animal data suggest that short-term exposure to air pollution may trigger non-specific abdominal pain in young individuals.
AB - Background: We studied whether short-term exposure to air pollution was associated with non-specific abdominal pain in epidemiologic and animal studies. Methods: Patients visiting the emergency department with non-specific abdominal pain were identified in Edmonton (1992 to 2002, n = 95,173) and Montreal (1997 to 2002, n = 25,852). We calculated the daily concentrations for ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particles <10 (PM10) or <2.5 (PM2.5) μm. A case crossover study design was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) associated with an increase in the interquartile range of the air pollutants. We investigated differential effects by age and sex. Mice were gavaged with urban particle extracts. In animal models, colonic motility was tested, and visceral abdominal pain was measured using a writhing test, and behavioral response to oil of mustard and neostigmine. Motility and pain was measured acutely (1.5 hours after gavage) and chronically (7-days and 21-days after gavage). Results: Emergency department visits for non-specific abdominal pain were primarily by women between the ages of 15-24 years. Individuals aged 15 to 24 years were at increased risk of non-specific abdominal pain in Edmonton (same day CO: OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02-1.06; and NO2: OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.03-1.09). The risk of air pollution among 15-24 year olds in Montreal was significantly positive (same day CO: OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.05-1.17; NO2: OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01-1.16; SO2: OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.10-1.25; PM2.5: OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.04-1.15). Abdominal pain was increased by an acute gavage of pollution extract but not to chronic exposure to pollutants. Colonic transit was delayed following chronic but not acute exposure with the pollutants. Conclusions: Epidemiological and animal data suggest that short-term exposure to air pollution may trigger non-specific abdominal pain in young individuals.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84868282993
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0047669
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0047669
M3 - Article
C2 - 23118887
AN - SCOPUS:84868282993
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 7
JO - PLOS ONE
JF - PLOS ONE
IS - 10
M1 - e47669
ER -
