Outdoor environment, ozone, radionuclide-associated aerosols and incidences of infantile eczema in Minsk, Belarus.

Abstract

The early occurrence of atopic dermatitis in infants may be influenced by urban air pollution. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between incidences of infantile eczema in children under 2years of age and urban outdoor environmental factors. A 11-year population-based study was conducted in retrospective design. The age/gender-adjusted incidence rates of infantile eczema were determined using the data of outpatient visits. We analysed 1965 cases with atopic dermatitis including infantile eczema in relation to the annual means of outdoor monitoring data from 2005 through 2015 in Minsk. Logistic regression and principal component analysis were performed to determine association between the annual means of air pollutants, meteorological variables and incidences of infantile eczema. Higher mean annual carbon monoxide, ammonia, formaldehyde, lead, particulate matter and ground-level ozone were associated with high incidence rates of infantile eczema both in boys and girls. Higher nitrogen dioxide was associated with high incidence rates of infantile eczema in girls 1-2years of age and boys 0-2years of age. There were identified by principal component analysis five combinations of pollutants and meteorological factors. High incidence rates of infantile eczema were associated with the combinations contained higher levels of air pollutants and ultraviolet index, or lower β-activity of the radionuclide-associated aerosols. The higher phenol and formaldehyde levels the higher incidence rates of infantile eczema were observed among boys 0-1years of age and girls 1-2years of age. The higher total column ozone with lower lead level was associated with low incidence rates of infantile eczema among boys and girls 1-2years of age. Urban outdoor air pollutants and their combination with meteorological conditions may impact onset of infantile eczema in both genders.