TY - JOUR
T1 - Exposure to ambient ultrafine particles and allergic sensitization in children up to 16 years
AU - Bouma, Femke
AU - Hoek, Gerard
AU - Koppelman, Gerard H.
AU - Vonk, Judith M.
AU - Kerckhoffs, Jules
AU - Vermeulen, Roel
AU - Gehring, Ulrike
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors
PY - 2023/2/15
Y1 - 2023/2/15
N2 - Background: Few epidemiological studies so far have investigated the role of long-term exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) in inhalant and food allergy development. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between UFP exposure and allergic sensitization to inhalant and food allergens in children up to 16 years old in the Netherlands. Methods: 2295 participants of a prospective birth cohort with IgE measurements to common inhalant and food allergens at ages 4, 8, 12 and/or 16 were included in the study. Annual average UFP concentrations were estimated for the home addresses at birth and at the time of the IgE measurements using land-use regression models. Generalized estimating equations were used for the assessment of overall and age-specific associations between UFP exposure and allergic sensitization. Additionally, single- and two-pollutant models with NO2, PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance and PM10 were assessed. Results: We found no significant associations between UFP exposure and allergic sensitization to inhalant and food allergens (OR (95% CI) ranging from 1.02 (0.95–1.10) to 1.05 (0.98–1.12), per IQR increment). NO2, PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance and PM10 showed significant associations with sensitization to food allergens (OR (95% CI) ranging from 1.09 (1.00–1.20) to 1.23 (1.06–1.43) per IQR increment). NO2, PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance and PM10 were not associated with sensitization to inhalant allergens. For NO2, PM2.5 and PM2.5 absorbance, the associations with sensitization to food allergens persisted in two-pollutant models with UFP. Conclusion: This study found no association between annual average exposure to UFP and allergic sensitization in children up to 16 years of age. NO2, PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance and PM10 were associated with sensitization to food allergens.
AB - Background: Few epidemiological studies so far have investigated the role of long-term exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) in inhalant and food allergy development. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between UFP exposure and allergic sensitization to inhalant and food allergens in children up to 16 years old in the Netherlands. Methods: 2295 participants of a prospective birth cohort with IgE measurements to common inhalant and food allergens at ages 4, 8, 12 and/or 16 were included in the study. Annual average UFP concentrations were estimated for the home addresses at birth and at the time of the IgE measurements using land-use regression models. Generalized estimating equations were used for the assessment of overall and age-specific associations between UFP exposure and allergic sensitization. Additionally, single- and two-pollutant models with NO2, PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance and PM10 were assessed. Results: We found no significant associations between UFP exposure and allergic sensitization to inhalant and food allergens (OR (95% CI) ranging from 1.02 (0.95–1.10) to 1.05 (0.98–1.12), per IQR increment). NO2, PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance and PM10 showed significant associations with sensitization to food allergens (OR (95% CI) ranging from 1.09 (1.00–1.20) to 1.23 (1.06–1.43) per IQR increment). NO2, PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance and PM10 were not associated with sensitization to inhalant allergens. For NO2, PM2.5 and PM2.5 absorbance, the associations with sensitization to food allergens persisted in two-pollutant models with UFP. Conclusion: This study found no association between annual average exposure to UFP and allergic sensitization in children up to 16 years of age. NO2, PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance and PM10 were associated with sensitization to food allergens.
KW - Air pollution
KW - Allergy
KW - Children
KW - IgE sensitization
KW - Inhalant and food allergens
KW - Ultrafine particles
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145576499&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115102
DO - 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115102
M3 - Article
C2 - 36565840
AN - SCOPUS:85145576499
SN - 0013-9351
VL - 219
JO - Environmental Research
JF - Environmental Research
M1 - 115102
ER -