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Association of pollution and climate with atopic eczema in US children
Author(s) -
Kathuria P.,
Silverberg J. I.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/pai.12543
Subject(s) - medicine , relative humidity , air pollution , environmental chemistry , environmental health , meteorology , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry
Background We sought to determine the relationship between childhood eczema, climate, and environmental pollutants. Methods We analyzed data from the 2007–2008 National Survey of Children's Health including a representative sample of 91,642 children age 0–17 years and the 2006–2007 Environmental Protection Agency measurements of carbon monoxide ( CO ), nitrate ( NO 3 ), nitrogen dioxide ( NO 2 ), organic carbon ( OC ), sulfate ( SO 3 ), sulfur dioxide ( SO 2 ), particulate matter ≤2.5 μm ( PM ‐2.5) and <10 μm ( PM ‐10), and tropospheric ozone levels, and the National Climate Data Center measurements of relative humidity (%), issued UV index, outdoor air temperature, and precipitation levels. Results In multivariate survey logistic regression models controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, US birthplace, and history of moving to a new location, eczema was associated with higher mean annual NO 2 (p = 0.008), SO 2 (p = 0.006), SO 3 (p = 0.0002), arsenic (p = 0.0007), nickel (p = 0.0002), lead (p = 0.03), vanadium (p < 0.0001), and zinc (p = 0.003), but lower NO 3 (p = 0.002), OC (p = 0.03), PM ‐2.5 (p = 0.006), cadmium (p < 0.0001), copper (p = 0.004), and potassium (p < 0.0001). In contrast, moderate–severe eczema was associated with higher NO 3 (p = 0.03), OC (p = 0.008) and PM ‐2.5 (p = 0.01), copper (p = 0.04), lead (p = 0.008), and zinc (p = 0.01), but lower CO (p = 0.03). Principal component analysis was used and identified 4 combinations of pollutants and climate factors occurring in the USA , of which 1 was associated with higher prevalence and two were associated with lower prevalences of eczema (p < 0.05). Conclusions Pollutants in conjunction with climate factors may differentially impact eczema prevalence and severity, some with apparent harmful effects.