The Effects of Outdoor Air Pollution on Health Among People Living with Sickle Cell Disease: A Scoping Review
7 affiliations
- 1Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
- 2Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health, Baltimore, USA
- 3Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
- 4Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
- 5Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Duke Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Division of Pediatric Hematology / Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Duke University, Durham, USA
- 6Tracking California, Public Health Institute, Oakland, USA
- 7Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Eudowood Division of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 200 N Wolfe Street, Suite 3015, Baltimore, 21287 USA MD
Abstract
Purpose of Review: People with sickle cell disease (SCD) may be uniquely vulnerable and susceptible to serious health exacerbations associated with outdoor air pollution exposure. In this scoping review, we summarize evidence about impacts of outdoor air pollution exposure on health among people with SCD.
Recent Findings: Four databases were queried for peer-reviewed, primary research articles published before December 31, 2024. We identified 2246 articles, screened 1454 abstracts, and reviewed 30 full-texts. 12 studies met the inclusion criteria, and all included children in the study population. Half of the included studies were set in the United States. Further, half of the studies were published during or after 2020. Across study designs, associations were consistently positive for CO, NO2, PM2.5, and PM10 exposures and all-cause ED visits among adults and children, yet few were statistically significant (n = 3).
Summary: This review identified a small body of literature supporting positive associations between ambient exposure to CO, NO2, PM2.5, and PM10 and all-cause ED visits among adults and children living with SCD, and findings were consistent with prior research among other potentially susceptible groups. However, marked methodological heterogeneity across studies limited broader inferences.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-026-00557-3.
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BibTeX
@article{smith2026effects,
title = {{The Effects of Outdoor Air Pollution on Health Among People Living with Sickle Cell Disease: A Scoping Review}},
author = {Zachary Smith and Louis Fazen and Katherine Lan and Gabriel Hawthorne and Justice Lawrence and Kirsten Koehler and Jaime Madrigano and John J. Strouse and Jhaqueline Valle and Catherine Carpenter and S. Christy Sadreameli},
journal = {Current Environmental Health Reports},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1007/s40572-026-00557-3},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-026-00557-3},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The Effects of Outdoor Air Pollution on Health Among People Living with Sickle Cell Disease: A Scoping Review
AU - Zachary Smith
AU - Louis Fazen
AU - Katherine Lan
AU - Gabriel Hawthorne
AU - Justice Lawrence
AU - Kirsten Koehler
AU - Jaime Madrigano
AU - John J. Strouse
AU - Jhaqueline Valle
AU - Catherine Carpenter
AU - S. Christy Sadreameli
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/03
JO - Current Environmental Health Reports
DO - 10.1007/s40572-026-00557-3
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-026-00557-3
AB - Purpose of Review: People with sickle cell disease (SCD) may be uniquely vulnerable and susceptible to serious health exacerbations associated with outdoor air pollution exposure. In this scoping review, we summarize evidence about impacts of outdoor air pollution exposure on health among people with SCD. Recent Findings: Four databases were queried for peer-reviewed, primary research articles published before December 31, 2024. We identified 2246 articles, screened 1454 abstracts, and reviewed 30 full-texts. 12 studies met the inclusion criteria, and all included children in the study population. Half of the included studies were set in the United States. Further, half of the studies were published during or after 2020. Across study designs, associations were consistently positive for CO, NO2, PM2.5, and PM10 exposures and all-cause ED visits among adults and children, yet few were statistically significant (n = 3). Summary: This review identified a small body of literature supporting positive associations between ambient exposure to CO, NO2, PM2.5, and PM10 and all-cause ED visits among adults and children living with SCD, and findings were consistent with prior research among other potentially susceptible groups. However, marked methodological heterogeneity across studies limited broader inferences. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-026-00557-3.
SN - 2196-5412
ER -