Effect of Traffic-Related Air Pollution on Allergic Disease: Results of the Children's Health and Environmental Research

Abstract

PurposeThis study evaluated the relationship of living near to main roads to allergic diseases, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), allergic sensitization, and lung function in Korean children.MethodsA total of 5,443 children aged 6-14 years from 33 elementary schools in 10 cities during 2005-2006 were included in a baseline survey of the Children's Health and Environmental Research. We assessed association of traffic-related air pollution (TAP) exposure with the distance to the nearest main road, total road length of main roads and the proportion of the main road area within the 200-m home area.ResultsPositive exposure-response relationships were found between the length of the main road within the 200-m home area and lifetime wheeze (adjusted prevalence ratio [PR] for comparison of the longest to the shortest length categories=1.24; 95% CIs, 1.04-1.47; P for trend=0.022) and diagnosed asthma (PR=1.42; 95% CIs, 1.08-1.86; P for trend=0.011). Living less than 75 m from the main road was significantly associated with lifetime allergic rhinitis (AR), past-year AR symptoms, diagnosed AR, and treated AR. The distance to the main road (P for trend=0.001), the length of the main road (P for trend=0.041), and the proportion of the main road area (P for trend=0.006) had an exposure-response relationship with allergic sensitization. A strong inverse association was observed between residential proximity to the main load and lung function, especially FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25-75. The length of the main road and the proportion of the main road area were associated with reduced FEV1 in schoolchildren.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that exposure to traffic-related air pollution may be associated with increased risk of asthma, AR, and allergic sensitization, and with reduced lung function in schoolchildren.

Pulmonary health effects of air pollution

“…This difference might be due to study design and/or multiple other causes of asthma in children. A Korean study published in 2015 demonstrated long-term exposure to TRAP may be associated with an increased risk of asthma, allergic sensitization and decreased lung function in schoolchildren depending on the proximity of their residence to a major road [25]. A study from Japan in 2014 of 10,069 children aged 6-9 years found TRAP associated with development of asthma [26].…”

Air pollution and allergic diseases

“…Children aged 10–18 living within 500 meters of a freeway had significant deficits in FEV1, FVC and maximal mid-expiratory flow rate compared to those living more than 1500 meters away (19). A recent study of 5,443 Korean children aged 6–14 found that children living within 200 meters of a main road that was ≥254 meters long had increased lifetime wheezing, lifetime asthma diagnosis and decreased lung function (20). A meta-analysis of six cohorts in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) that included 23,704 adults found that exposure to higher NO 2 increased the incidence of adult-onset asthma, although the results did not reach significance (21).…”

“…A Taiwanese study of 317,926 middle school students demonstrated that flexural eczema was associated with levels of CO and NO X (28). In the Southern California Children’s Health Study, children living less than 75 meters from the main road were significantly more likely to have lifetime diagnoses and symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) (20). The distance to the main road and the length and proportion of the main road within 200 meters of the home were all associated with allergic sensitization, defined as positive skin prick test (SPT) to an aeroallergen or food (20).…”

“…In the Southern California Children’s Health Study, children living less than 75 meters from the main road were significantly more likely to have lifetime diagnoses and symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) (20). The distance to the main road and the length and proportion of the main road within 200 meters of the home were all associated with allergic sensitization, defined as positive skin prick test (SPT) to an aeroallergen or food (20). Our data and others have also shown high TRAP exposure in the first year of life to increase the risk of aeroallergen sensitization by the age of four by 40–83% (29, 30).…”

Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate reduces acute lung inflammation through increased alternatively activated macrophage activity in an acute mouse model of allergic airways disease

“…Asthma is a heterogeneous, chronic, inflammatory lung disease characterized by reversible airways obstruction, bronchospasm and infiltration of immune cells (1-3). It is estimated that 150 million people are affected by asthma worldwide, with a 5–15% prevalence in children (4) and there is evidence that early life exposure to air pollution caused by vehicle exhaust, environmental dust and industrial processes, increases the severity of asthma in children (5-7). The respiratory symptoms such as cough, and wheeze are worsened by exposure to pollution (8).…”