Traffic pollution linked to childhood allergies

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Traffic pollution linked to childhood allergies.

<http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=44be479d-6c4a-4f\

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German researchers say they have found some of the strongest evidence

yet linking traffic pollution to childhood allergies.

Reuters 14 June 2008.

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Atopic diseases, allergic sensitization, and exposure to traffic-related

air pollution in children

Morgenstern V et al.

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008 Jun 15;177(12):1331-7.

http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/full/177/12/1331

RATIONALE: In vitro studies, animal experiments, and human exposure

studies have shown how ambient air pollution increases the risk of

atopic diseases. However, results derived from observational studies are

inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: To assess the relationship between

individual-based exposure to traffic-related air pollutants and allergic

disease outcomes in a prospective birth cohort study during the first 6

years of life. METHODS: We studied 2,860 children at the age of 4 years

and 3,061 at the age of 6 years to investigate atopic diseases and

allergic sensitization. Long-term exposure to particulate matter

(PM(2.5)), PM(2.5) absorbance, and long-term exposure to nitrogen

dioxide (NO(2)) was assessed at residential addresses using geographic

information systems based regression models and air pollution

measurements. The distance to the nearest main road was used as a

surrogate for traffic-related air pollutants. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS: Strong positive associations were found between the distance to

the nearest main road and asthmatic bronchitis, hay fever, eczema, and

sensitization. A distance-dependent relationship could be identified,

with the highest odds ratios (ORs) for children living less than 50 m

from busy streets. For PM(2.5) absorbance, statistically significant

effects were found for asthmatic bronchitis (OR, 1.56; 95% confidence

interval [CI], 1.03-2.37), hay fever (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.11-2.27), and

allergic sensitization to pollen (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.20-1.64). NO(2)

exposure was associated with eczema, whereas no association was found

for allergic sensitization. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides strong

evidence for increased risk of atopic diseases and allergic

sensitization when children are exposed to ambient particulate matter.

PMID: 1833759