Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Chronic exposure to air pollutants harms human health, and at a geographical level, concentrations of air pollutants are often associated with socioeconomic disadvantage.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of educational attainment and air pollution on lung function in older adults, and whether air pollution may mediate the effect of education.
METHODS: The study included 6381 individuals (mean age 58.24 ± 7.14 years) who participated in the Czech HAPPIE (Health, Alcohol, and Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe) study. Participants\' residential addresses were linked to air pollution data, including mean exposures to PM10 (particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter below 10 μm) and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide). We used path analysis to link educational attainment and air pollutants to a standardized measure of the Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1).
RESULTS: Higher levels of participants\' education were associated with lower exposures to PM10 and NO2. Individuals with tertiary education had higher standardized FEV1 than individuals with primary education (88 % vs 95 %). Path analysis revealed a direct positive effect of education on FEV1, while about 12 % of the relationship between education and lung function was mediated by PM10 and NO2. CONCLUSIONS: Education (typically completed at young ages) appeared to have a protective effect on lung function later in life, and a small part of this effect was mediated by air pollution.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of educational attainment and air pollution on lung function in older adults, and whether air pollution may mediate the effect of education.
METHODS: The study included 6381 individuals (mean age 58.24 ± 7.14 years) who participated in the Czech HAPPIE (Health, Alcohol, and Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe) study. Participants\' residential addresses were linked to air pollution data, including mean exposures to PM10 (particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter below 10 μm) and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide). We used path analysis to link educational attainment and air pollutants to a standardized measure of the Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1).
RESULTS: Higher levels of participants\' education were associated with lower exposures to PM10 and NO2. Individuals with tertiary education had higher standardized FEV1 than individuals with primary education (88 % vs 95 %). Path analysis revealed a direct positive effect of education on FEV1, while about 12 % of the relationship between education and lung function was mediated by PM10 and NO2. CONCLUSIONS: Education (typically completed at young ages) appeared to have a protective effect on lung function later in life, and a small part of this effect was mediated by air pollution.
摘要：
背景：长期接触空气污染物会危害人类健康，在地理层面，空气污染物的浓度通常与社会经济劣势有关。
目的：本研究的目的是调查受教育程度和空气污染对老年人肺功能的影响。以及空气污染是否可以调节教育的效果。
方法：该研究包括6381名参加捷克HAPPIE（健康，酒精,和东欧的社会心理因素)研究。参与者的住址与空气污染数据相关联，包括平均暴露于PM10（空气动力学直径低于10μm的颗粒物）和NO2（二氧化氮）。我们使用路径分析将教育程度和空气污染物与第一秒钟的强迫呼气量（FEV1）的标准化度量联系起来。
结果：较高的参与者受教育水平与较低的PM10和NO2暴露相关。受过高等教育的人的标准化FEV1高于受过初等教育的人（88％vs95％）。路径分析显示，教育对FEV1有直接的积极影响，而教育与肺功能之间的关系中约有12％是由PM10和NO2介导的。结论：教育（通常在年轻时完成）在以后的生活中似乎对肺功能有保护作用。这种影响的一小部分是由空气污染介导的。
目的：本研究的目的是调查受教育程度和空气污染对老年人肺功能的影响。以及空气污染是否可以调节教育的效果。
方法：该研究包括6381名参加捷克HAPPIE（健康，酒精,和东欧的社会心理因素)研究。参与者的住址与空气污染数据相关联，包括平均暴露于PM10（空气动力学直径低于10μm的颗粒物）和NO2（二氧化氮）。我们使用路径分析将教育程度和空气污染物与第一秒钟的强迫呼气量（FEV1）的标准化度量联系起来。
结果：较高的参与者受教育水平与较低的PM10和NO2暴露相关。受过高等教育的人的标准化FEV1高于受过初等教育的人（88％vs95％）。路径分析显示，教育对FEV1有直接的积极影响，而教育与肺功能之间的关系中约有12％是由PM10和NO2介导的。结论：教育（通常在年轻时完成）在以后的生活中似乎对肺功能有保护作用。这种影响的一小部分是由空气污染介导的。
