Association between screening myopia and mixed exposure to air pollution among primary school students in four cities in China
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2026137
- VernacularTitle:中国四市小学生筛查性近视与空气污染混合暴露的关联
- Author:
LIU Feng, LI Tingting, TAO Shuman, ZOU Liwei, TAO Fangbiao, WU Xiaoyan
1
Author Information
1. Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Myopia;
Air pollution;
Particulate matter;
Students
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2026;47(5):714-718
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the association between screening detected myopia in primary school students and mixed exposure to air pollutants, so as to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents.
Methods:From May to July 2023, a cluster random sampling method was used to select 15 102 primary school students in grades 3 through 6 from Hefei, Zhongshan, Shenyang, and Nanchang citys. Data were collected through questionnaires, distance vision screening, and computerized refraction. Monthly average concentration data for particulate matter (PM 10 ), fine particulate matter (PM 2. 5), NO 2 and SO 2 were used to calculate the annual average pollutant concentrations for primary school students. Quantile g computation model was employed to analyze the association between mixed exposure to air pollutants and screening detected myopia.
Results:The differences in concentrations of the four pollutants among cities were statistically significant ( H =12 886.0, 13 285.0, 8 559.0, 13 181.0, all P <0.01). In the overall sample, there was no statistically significant association between combined exposure to air pollutants and the risk of myopia ( β=0.033, 95%CI=-0.004-0.072, P =0.08). Stratified analysis by outdoor activity time showed that among primary school students with outdoor activity time ≤1 h/d, mixed exposure to air pollutants was positively associated with the risk of myopia ( β=0.050, 95%CI=0.002-0.099, P =0.04); after stratification by city, combined exposure to air pollutants was significantly associated with the risk of myopia among primary school students in Nanchang and Shenyang [ β (95% CI )= 0.232(0.175-0.289), 0.080(0.006-0.155), both P <0.05], whereas no statistically significant association was observed among primary school students in Hefei and Zhongshan [ β (95% CI )=-0.010(-0.071-0.051), -0.032(-0.167-0.102), both P ＞ 0.05 ].
Conclusions:Exposure to multiple air pollutants may increase the risk of myopia in primary school students, with the risk influenced by time spent outdoors and geographical location. It is recommended that outdoor activity management for children be strengthened in areas with higher air pollution levels, and that environmental factors be incorporated into comprehensive myopia prevention and control strategies.
