Urban background particulate matter and allergic sensitization in adults of ECRHS II

• Published in: International journal of hygiene and environmental health Vol. 210; no. 6; pp. 691 - 700
• Main Authors: Bedada, Getahun Bero, Heinrich, Joachim, Götschi, Thomas, Downs, Sara H., Forsberg, Bertil, Jarvis, Deborah, Luczynska, Christina, Soon, Argo, Sunyer, Jordi, Toren, Kjell, Künzli, Nino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Jena Elsevier GmbH 01.12.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Allergens - immunology; Allergic sensitization; Allergy; Asthma; Atopy; Biological and medical sciences; Cities; Clinical Medicine; Diesel exhaust particles; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Monitoring; Epidemiological Monitoring; Europe - epidemiology; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Hypersensitivity - epidemiology; Hypersensitivity - etiology; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Klinisk medicin; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Odds Ratio; Particulate Matter - analysis; Prevalence; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Sulfur - analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Toxicology; Europe; Allergy; Air pollution; Diesel exhaust particles; Allergic sensitization; Asthma; Atopy; Human; Immunopathology; Lung disease; Urban environment; Respiratory disease; Toxicity; Diesel engine; Urban area; Suspended particle; Health and environment; Fine particle; Bronchus disease; Adult; Environmental medicine; Exhaust gas; Sensitization; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Public health
• ISSN: 1438-4639; 1618-131X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2006.11.005

Epidemiological studies have shown weak or inconsistent associations between ambient air pollutants and allergic sensitization. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether regional urban air pollution may partly explain the large variation in the prevalence of allergic sensitization across cities of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) II. ECRHS is a cross-sectional survey initiated in 29 countries across Europe in the 1990s (ECRHS I) with a follow-up conducted 10 years later (ECRHS II). Subject characteristics were measured by questionnaires and blood tests conducted for the measurement of specific immunoglobulin E. Fine particle mass (PM2.5, <2.5μm) and sulphur on PM2.5 were measured in 21 centres and annual averages of urban regional background air pollution were calculated. Results were scaled by an interquartile range increase in ambient PM2.5 (6.03μg/m3) and sulphur (1336ng/m3). Generalized estimating equations were applied to compute population average effect estimates with adjustment for age, gender, smoking habit, education and number of siblings. A notable variation in pollution level and prevalence of allergic sensitization was observed. Moreover, exposure to urban regional background air pollution was not associated with allergic sensitization; adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval were 1.02 (0.95–1.09) for PM2.5 and 1.08 (0.86–1.31) for sulphur. These statistically non-significant associations were sensitive to model specification. The study suggests that regional air pollution measured at fixed sites is not associated with allergic sensitization among adults in ECRHS II.