Association of Inhaled Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP) Dose with Lung Function and Inflammatory Markers

Traffic‑related air pollution (TRAP) is associated with acute respiratory and inflammatory responses, particularly among individuals with asthma. This study examines how short‑term exposure to pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), black carbon (BC), and particle number concentration (PNC) influences biomarkers, including exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), which reflect airway inflammation and respiratory function, respectively. Building on prior concentration‑based analyses, this work incorporates dose modeling to evaluate whether inhaled dose, rather than ambient concentration alone, better explains physiological responses. Data are drawn from the Atlanta Commuting Exposure (ACE‑1 and ACE‑2) studies (2010–2013), in which participants completed scripted two‑hour commutes while wearing personal monitoring devices that recorded pollutants, ventilation, and physiological measures. Mixed‑effects models will estimate pollutant–biomarker associations separately for asthmatic and non‑asthmatic participants to assess differences in susceptibility. The goal of this analysis is to further clarify the mechanistic link between real‑world commuting exposures and acute airway inflammation and to determine whether dose‑based metrics improve detection of short‑term TRAP effects, ultimately guiding more accurate exposure assessment and informing future public‑health strategies.