Effect of Living Close to Major Roadway on Allergic Diseases: Results of the Childrenʼs Health and Environmental Research (CHEER)

Abstract

PP-29-050 Background/Aims: The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased during past decades in Korea, with an increasing tendency of exposure to traffic-related air pollutants being a potential risk factor of allergic diseases in children. The objective of our study is to assess the relationship between living near major roadways and allergic diseases in Korean children. Methods: We studied 2754 children aged 6–8 years from 16 schools in 7 South Korean cities as part of the first Children's Health and Environmental Research (CHEER) survey. The prevalence of allergic diseases (asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis) was assessed by an International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire completed by the parents. Residential distance to the nearest major roadway and road density within a 200 m buffer were used as surrogates for traffic-related air pollutants. We used a GIS to measure distance to and density of roadways. We used logistic regression to assess the association between living close to major roadways and allergic diseases. Results: Inverse associations were found between distance to the nearest major roadway and allergic diseases. The highest adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for children living less than 75 m from major roadway were found for lifetime wheeze (OR = 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.83), past year wheeze (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.02–2.08), doctor-diagnosed allergic rhinitis (AR) (OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 0.99–1.74), lifetime atopic dermatitis (OR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.03–1.70), doctor-diagnosed atopic dermatitis (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.12–1.89), and current atopic dermatitis (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.06–2.00). Moreover, distance to major roadway had an inverse dose-response relationship with asthma, AR, and atopic dermatitis. Adjusted OR per 100 m decline in distance were elevated for past year wheeze (OR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.04–1.30), doctor-diagnosed AR (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01–1.20), current AR (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.00–1.20), and current atopic dermatitis (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.00–1.22). Conclusion: We found that residential distances from major roadways and road density near homes are associated with the prevalence of allergic diseases in school children.