The Berlin-Brandenburg Air Study – a natural experiment investigating health effects from changes in airport-related exposures (BEAR Follow-up Study)

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Ambient ultrafine particles (UFP) may impose a substantial risk to human health. Recent studies have shown that UFP concentrations in ambient air are substantially elevated near large airports. Until now, evidence on the health effects of aircraft-related UFP (AC-UFP) in humans is scarce with only one ongoing study reporting associations with respiratory symptoms and lung function.Currently, Berlin has two operating airports (Tegel Airport (TXL) and Schönefeld Airport (SFX)). TXL will be shut down in October 2020 and air traffic will migrate within a few weeks to the newly opened Airport Berlin-Brandenburg (BER). Our central hypothesis is that a reduction of AC-UFP and other airport-related exposures in the vicinity of Tegel will be associated with improved pulmonary and neurocognitive development, and that the increase in AC-UFP and other airport-related exposures in the vicinity of BER will be associated with adverse pulmonary and neurocognitive development in children. We currently conduct UFP measurements and a baseline health examination in a panel of 800 elementary schoolchildren (in their schools) in the areas downwind of TXL and around BER as well as in a control area (BEAR Baseline Study). Here, we propose to continue the ongoing measurements of pulmonary, cardiovascular and neurocognitive function and quality of life, and the UFP assessment including concurrent measurements of particle size distribution and co-pollutants at fixed monitoring sites and mobile particle counters at the study schools. Next to short-term effects, the statistical analyses will focus on the analysis of lung growth and neurocognitive development, taking into account the role of aircraft noise, other transportation noise, and neighbourhood socioeconomic status in mediating and / or confounding the effect. This study will provide unique and scientifically robust evidence on the health effects of airport-related exposures. Due to the COVID-19-related lockdown, the exposure decreased earlier than expected at the inner-city airport and examinations were delayed due to school closures. We respond to these limitations by using data from a source-specific UFP chemistry transport model to asses exposure to UFP for several years before and after relocation, using a second field team, enlarging the study population including also areas west of BER, and by extending the observation period to be able to asses short- and long-term health effects.