Associations between hemoglobin levels and source-specific exposure to ambient fine particles among children aged <5 years in low- and middle-income countries

Objective: We investigated associations between source-specific fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and hemoglobin levels among children in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Method: 36,675 children aged < 5 years were collected in 11 LMICs during 2017. We associated child hemo-globin with 20 source-specific PM2.5, and calculated changes in hemoglobin that could be attributed to different PM2.5-mixture scenarios, established using real-world data from 88 Asian and African LMICs (AA-LMICs). Results: Multiple-source analysis revealed PM2.5 produced by solvents (change in hemoglobin for 1-& mu;g/m3 increment in PM2.5:-10.34 g/L, 95% CI -14.88 to -5.91), industrial coal combustion (-0.51 g/L, 95% CI -9.25 to -0.08), road transportation (-0.50 g/L, 95% CI -6.96 to -0.29), or waste handling and disposal (-0.34 g/L, 95% CI -4.38 to -0.23) was significantly associated with a decrease in hemoglobin level. Decreases in hemo-globin attributable to the PM2.5 mixtures were co-determined by the concentrations and their source profiles. The largest PM2.5-related change in hemoglobin was-10.25 g/L (95% CI -15.54 to -5.27) for a mean exposure of 61.01 & mu;g/m3 in India. Conclusion: Association between PM2.5 and a decrease in hemoglobin was affected by variations in PM2.5 source profiles. Source-oriented interventions are warranted to protect children in LMICs from air pollution.