RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Air pollution in most countries exceeds the levels recommended by the World Health Organization, causing up to one-third of deaths due to noncommunicable diseases. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) from mobile sources are the main contaminants. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the relationship of exposure to air pollutants (PM2.5 and BC) in microenvironments according to respiratory health and physical activity in users traveling by different types of transportation in Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS: A mixed methods study based on a convergent parallel design will be performed with workers and students. The sample will include 350 healthy transport users traveling by different urban transportation modes in three main routes in Bogotá. The study is broken down into two components: (1) a descriptive qualitative component focused on assessing the individual perception of air pollution using semistructured interviews; and (2) a cross-sectional study measuring the individual exposure to PM2.5 and BC using portable instruments (DustTrak and microAeth, respectively), pulmonary function by spirometry, and physical activity with accelerometry. The analysis will include concurrent triangulation and logistic regression. RESULTS: The findings will be useful for the conception, design, and decision-making process in the sectors of health and mobility from public, academy, and private perspectives. This study includes personal measurements of PM2.5 and BC during typical trips in the city to assess the exposure to these contaminants in the major roadways in real time. The study further compares the performance of two different lung tests to identify possible short-term respiratory effects. As a limitation, the protocol will include participants from different institutions in the city, which are not necessarily representative of all healthy populations in Bogotá. In this sense, it is not possible to draw causation conclusions. Moreover, a convergent parallel design could be especially problematic concerning integration because such a design often lacks a clear plan for making a connection between the two sets of results, which may not be well connected. Nevertheless, this study adopts a procedure for how to integrate qualitative and quantitative data in the interpretation of the results and a multilevel regression. The time that participants must live in the city will be considered; this will be controlled in the stratified analysis. Another limitation is the wide age range and working status of the participants. Regional pollution levels and episodes (PM2.5) will be handled as confounding variables. The study is currently in the enrollment phase of the participants. Measurements have been made on 300 participants. Pandemic conditions affected the study schedule; however, the results are likely to be obtained by late 2022. CONCLUSIONS: This study investigates the exposure to air pollutants in microenvironments in Bogotá, Colombia. To our knowledge, this is the first mixed methods study focusing on PM2.5, BC, and respiratory health effects in a city over 2 meters above sea level. This study will provide an integration of air pollution exposure variables and respiratory health effects in different microenvironments. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/25690.
RESUMO
Objetivo: El propósito de este resumen de evidencias para política (policy brief) fue sintetizar en un formato amigable, la evidencia de investigación de mejor calidad disponible respecto al uso de sistemas electrónicos con o sin dispensación de nicotina y similares, y sobre los efectos de cuatro opciones de abordaje de regulación seleccionadas por el Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social. Estas intervenciones podrían mejorar lo que actualmente se está haciendo en materia de regulación de sistemas electrónicos con o sin dispensación de nicotina y similares en Colombia, especialmente para la protección de grupos vulnerables como son los niños y adolescentes quienes actualmente pueden acceder a estos dispositivos sin ninguna restricción, exponiéndose a temprana edad a sustancias como la nicotina y el propilenglicol, las cuales están asociadas con cáncer y otras enfermedades. El presente documento da cuenta de cuatro opciones de abordaje en términos de sus beneficios, daños y consideraciones acerca de la implementación, monitoreo, evaluación y equidad: ⢠Opción 1: regulación de los SEAN, los SSSN y similares como productos sucedáneos del tabaco, en el marco de la legislación vigente; ⢠Opción 2: regulación de los SEAN y similares como medicamentos para la cesación tabáquica; ⢠Opción 3: regulación específica para los SEAN, los SSSN y similares como productos de consumo humano; ⢠Opción 4: prohibición total para la fabricación, exportación, importación, comercialización, uso, consumo, publicidad, promoción y patrocinio de los SEAN, los SSSN y similares.