Journal Article

Association between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and pediatric allergic diseases based on modeled air pollution concentrations and traffic measures in Seoul, Korea: a comparative analysis

Yi, Seon-Ju, Kim, Hwan-Cheol, Leem, Jong-Han, Kim, Sun-Young, Min, Kyung-Duk, Kwon, Ho-Jang, Kim, Kyoo Sang, Hong, Soyoung

2020

Overview

Background Pediatric allergic diseases are a major public health concern, and previous studies have suggested that exposure to t raffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure is a risk factor. These studies have typically assessed TRAP exposure using traffic measures, such as distance to major roads, or by modeling air pollutant concentrations; however inconsistent associations with pediatric allergic diseases have often been found. Using road proximity and density, we previously found an association between TRAP and atopic eczema among approximately 15,000 children living in Seoul, Korea, heavily populated and highly polluted city in which traffic is a major emission source. We aimed to conduct a parallel analysis using modeled air pollution concentrations and thus examine the consistency of the association. Specifically, we examined the associations of individual-level annual-average concentrations of NO 2 , PM 10 , and PM 2.5 with symptoms and diagnoses of three pediatric allergic diseases including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema. Methods The study population included 14,614 children from the Seoul Atopy Friendly School Project Survey in Seoul, Korea, in 2010. To assess individual exposures to TRAP among these children, we predicted annual-average concentrations of NO 2 , PM 10 , and PM 2.5 at the children’s home addresses in 2010 using universal kriging and land use regression models along with regulatory air quality monitoring data and geographic characteristics. Then, we estimated odds ratios (ORs) of the three allergic diseases for interquartile increases in air pollution concentrations after adjusting for individual risk factors in mixed effects logistic regression. Results Symptoms and diagnoses of atopic eczema symptoms showed an association with NO 2 (OR = 1.07, 95% confidence interval = 1.02–1.13; 1.08, 1.03–1.14) and PM 10 (1.06, 1.01–1.12; 1.07, 1.01–1.13). ORs of PM 2.5 were positive but not statistically significant (1.01, 0.95–1.07; 1.04, 0.98–1.10). No association was found between asthma and allergic rhinitis, although PM 2.5 showed a marginal association with allergic rhinitis. Conclusions Our consistent findings regarding the association between TRAP and the prevalence of atopic eczema using traffic measures and surrogate air pollutants suggested the effect of TRAP on children’s health. Follow-up studies should elucidate the causal link, to support subsequent policy considerations and minimize adverse health effects in children.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Air monitoring / Air pollution / Air pollution measurements / Air quality / Allergic diseases / Allergic rhinitis / Allergy / Asthma / Atopic eczema / Atopy / Automotive emissions / Child health / Childhood asthma / Children / Comparative analysis / Confidence intervals / Diseases / Earth and Environmental Science / Eczema / Emission analysis / Emissions / Environment / Environmental aspects / Environmental Epidemiology / Environmental Health / Environmental monitoring / Exposure / Health aspects / Health risks / Individual-level exposure / Influence / Kindergarten / Kriging interpolation / Land use / Medical research / Nitrogen dioxide / Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine / Particulate matter / Pediatric allergic diseases / Pediatric allergy / Pediatric diseases / Pediatrics / Pollutants / Pollution / Population studies / Public Health / Public health movements / Questionnaires / Regression analysis / Regression models / Rhinitis / Risk analysis / Risk factors / Roads & highways / Schools / Signs and symptoms / Skin diseases / Statistical analysis / Studies / Traffic / Traffic congestion / Traffic regulations