Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter ([Formula: see text]) and Lung Function in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: The association between long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) and lung function in young people remains uncertain, particularly in Asia, where air pollution is generally a serious problem. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the association between long-term exposure to ambient [Formula: see text] and lung function in Taiwanese children, adolescents, and young adults. METHODS: This study comprised 24,544 participants 6–24 years of age, with 33,506 medical observations made between 2000 and 2014. We used a spatiotemporal model to estimate [Formula: see text] concentrations at participants’ addresses. Spirometry parameters, i.e., forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s ([Formula: see text]), and maximum midexpiratory flow (MMEF), were determined. A generalized linear mixed model was used to examine the associations between long-term exposure to ambient [Formula: see text] and lung function. The odds ratios (ORs) of poor lung function were also calculated after adjusting for a range of covariates. RESULTS: Every [Formula: see text] increase in the 2-y average [Formula: see text] concentration was associated with decreases of 2.22% [95% confidence interval (CI): [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text]], 2.94 (95% CI: [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text]), and 2.79% (95% CI: [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text]) in the FVC, [Formula: see text] , and MMEF, respectively. Furthermore, it was associated with a 20% increase in the prevalence of poor lung function (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.29). CONCLUSIONS: Two-year ambient [Formula: see text] concentrations were inversely associated with lung function and positively associated with the prevalence of poor lung function in children, adolescents, and young adults in Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5220