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Meeting held on Friday 20th June 2003 1. The Chairman welcomed 4 new members to the Committee: Dr Vicki Stone (respiratory toxicology) 2. The Chairman thanked the departing members for their substantial contribution to the Committee's work over many years: Professor Roy Richards Minutes 3. The minutes were agreed subject to some minor changes. Matters arising 4. The COMEAP statement on assessment of the health implications of concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide indoors had now been sent to DTI Ministers and would be published shortly. 5. The next meeting of the sub-group on air pollution and cardiovascular disease would be in July with a draft of the report going to the next COMEAP meeting in September. 6. A 5 year review of COMEAP would be starting shortly. Ozone - associations with respiratory symptoms 7. The Committee agreed the following draft conclusions (to be confirmed in the overall final report): (i) The evidence, as summarised, was not sufficient to conclude that
daily changes in ozone were associated with daily changes in upper respiratory
symptoms, respiratory infections, wheeze or medication use (for upper
respiratory symptoms further quantitative analysis may resolve this).
8. Coherence of these results with the conclusions for other outcomes would be discussed when the Committee's conclusions over the series of ozone papers had been combined into a draft report. This would be presented to the Committee at the September meeting. UK levels of ozone 9. The Committee noted the paper on rising levels of ozone in urban areas. It was suggested that, in addition to averages across sites, data from particular long-established monitoring sites should also be provided to be more certain of long term trends. Adding the 95th percentiles to the graphs was also considered useful. Asthma and air pollution 10. The Committee discussed the draft report 'Does air pollution cause asthma?' and made many useful suggestions for further information to include in the report. The concluding chapter will be drafted on the basis of the discussion. Swimming pools and asthma 11. The Committee considered the paper by Bernard et al (2003) which suggested a link between swimming in chlorinated swimming pools and asthma. Members raised some points concerning the statistical methodology and the interpretation of the raised blood levels of lung proteins. It was agreed to write to the journal publishing the paper about these points. A statement will be drafted and cleared by correspondence. Indoor air quality guidance 12. The Committee considered a draft document on indoor air quality guidance. There was a brief discussion. Further comments would be sent in writing and a revised document sent round again. The final document will be placed on the website. Nitrogen dioxide 13. The Committee was informed that DEFRA had requested advice on the long term effects of nitrogen dioxide by June 2004. A paper including the executive summary from a draft IOM report on nitrogen dioxide and the section on nitrogen dioxide from the WHO review had been provided to start off thinking in this area. The full draft IOM report will also be circulated for comments. Future plans 14. The Committee were provided with a list of subject areas suggested by Members or the Secretariat for consideration at some future date. It was not expected that all of these could be completed. Work on long term effects of nitrogen dioxide had already been mentioned. An update of the quantification report published in 1998 would start in 2004 and, if possible, a report on air pollution and children would start in the same year. Date of next meeting 15. 19th September 2003 in Skipton House.
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