AUTHOR=Soppa Vanessa , Lucht Sarah , Ogurtsova Katherine , Buschka Anna , López-Vicente Mónica , Guxens Mònica , Weinhold Kay , Winkler Ulf , Wiedensohler Alfred , Held Andreas , Lüchtrath Sabine , Cyrys Josef , Kecorius Simonas , Gastmeier Petra , Wiese-Posselt Miriam , Hoffmann Barbara 

TITLE=The Berlin-Brandenburg Air Study—A Methodological Study Paper of a Natural Experiment Investigating Health Effects Related to Changes in Airport-Related Exposures

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=68

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1606096

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1606096

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> This paper presents the study design of the Berlin-Brandenburg Air study (BEAR-study). We measure air quality in Berlin and Brandenburg before and after the relocation of aircraft (AC) traffic from Tegel (TXL) airport to the new Berlin-Brandenburg airport (BER) and investigate the association of AC-related ultrafine particles (UFP) with health outcomes in schoolchildren.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> The BEAR-study is a natural experiment examining schoolchildren attending schools near TXL and BER airports, and in control areas (CA) away from both airports and associated air corridors. Each child undergoes repeated school-based health-examinations. Total particle number concentration (PNC) and meteorological parameters are continuously monitored. Submicrometer particle number size distribution, equivalent black carbon, and gas-phase pollutants are collected from long-term air quality monitoring stations. Daily source-specific UFP concentrations are modeled. We will analyze short-term effects of UFP on respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurocognitive outcomes, as well as medium and long-term effects on lung growth and cognitive development.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> We examined 1,070 children (as of 30 November 2022) from 16 schools in Berlin and Brandenburg.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The BEAR study increases the understanding of how AC-related UFP affect children’s health.</p>