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Long‐term exposure to background air pollution related to respiratory and allergic health in schoolchildren
Author(s) -
PénardMorand C.,
Charpin D.,
Raherison C.,
Kopferschmitt C.,
Caillaud D.,
Lavaud F.,
AnnesiMaesano I.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2005.02336.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , atopic dermatitis , odds ratio , allergy , confidence interval , population , environmental health , confounding , pediatrics , immunology
Summary Background The impact of air pollution on asthma and allergies still remains a debate. Objective Our cross‐sectional study was intended to analyse the associations between long‐term exposure to background air pollution and atopic and respiratory outcomes in a large population‐based sample of schoolchildren. Methods Six thousand six hundred and seventy‐two children aged 9–11 years recruited from 108 randomly schools in six French cities underwent a clinical examination including a skin prick test (SPT) to common allergens, exercise‐induced bronchial reactivity (EIB) and skin examination for flexural dermatitis. The prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR) and atopic dermatitis was assessed by a standardized health questionnaire completed by the parents. Three‐year‐averaged concentrations of air pollutants (NO 2 , SO 2 , PM 10 and O 3 ) were calculated at children' schools using measurements of background monitoring stations. Results After adjusting for confounders, EIB, lifetime asthma and lifetime AR were found to be positively related to an increase in the exposure to SO 2 , PM 10 and O 3 . The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) per increase of 5 μg/m 3 of SO 2 was 1.39 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.15–1.66) for EIB and 1.19 (1.00–1.41) for lifetime asthma. The aOR for lifetime AR per increase of 10 μg/m 3 of PM 10 was 1.32 (CI=1.04–1.68). Moreover, SPT positivity was associated with O 3 (aOR=1.34; CI=1.24–1.46). Associations with past year symptoms were consistent, even if not always statistically significant. Results persisted in long‐term resident (current address for at least 8 years) children. However, no consistent positive association was found with NO 2 . Conclusions A moderate increase in long‐term exposure to background ambient air pollution was associated with an increased prevalence of respiratory and atopic indicators in children.