Allergic Sensitization In Children Research Articles

Climate and Allergic Sensitization to Airborne Allergens in the General Population: Data from the French Six Cities Study

Background: The results of international epidemiological surveys show large geographical variations in skin test reactivity but do not provide a rationale for such variations. Objective: To assess the relationship between climate and allergic sensitization in schoolchildren. Methods: In the present study, we analyzed data from a multicenter, epidemiological survey that included 6,461 schoolchildren, aged 9-11 years, living in 6 French cities scattered around France. The protocol also included a battery of skin prick tests to common airborne allergens. The crude prevalence of sensitization to each allergen was estimated for each city and then adjusted for potential confounding factors. This analysis was repeated for monosensitization and for allergens grouped into 2 categories: indoor allergens, i.e., house dust mite (HDM), cat, and cockroach allergens, and outdoor allergens, i.e., birch pollen, grass pollen, and Alternaria. We also grouped cities according to their location on the coast, i.e., Marseille and Bordeaux, or inland, i.e., Créteil, Clermont-Ferrand, Reims, and Strasbourg. Results: A difference in prevalence of sensitization to each airborne allergen or allergens grouped into indoor and outdoor categories was found between cities, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Also, a higher prevalence of sensitization to HDM, cat dander, and, broadly speaking, indoor allergens, was found in children living on the coast than in those living inland, whereas they showed a lower prevalence of sensitization to birch pollen. Between-city differences in the prevalence of monosensitization were also statistically significant. Children living in coastal cities had a higher rate of monosensitization to indoor allergens and a lower prevalence of sensitization to birch pollen. The higher prevalence of allergic sensitization in children from coastal cities is most likely due to climatic conditions, such as proximity from sea and humidity. Differences in sensitization to birch allergens could be due to differential exposure to these pollen. Conclusion: These results indicate a role of environmental exposure in sensitization to perennial as well as seasonal allergens.

Indoor fungal diversity in primary schools may differently influence allergic sensitization and asthma in children.

Childhood exposure to microbiologic agents may influence the development of allergic and respiratory diseases. Apart from home, children spend most of their time at school, which represents an environment of significant exposure to indoor air microbes. Therefore, we aimed to assess how the prevalence of allergic sensitization and asthma in schoolchildren is affected by microbiologic exposure within classrooms. Spirometry with bronchodilation, exhaled nitric oxide measurements and skin-prick tests data were retrieved from 858 children aged 8-10 years attending 71 classrooms in 20 primary schools. Air samples were collected in all classrooms using a single-stage microbiologic air impactor through agar plates. Gram-negative endotoxins were collected using flow control pumps and analysed by limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Diversity scores were established as the number of different fungal species found in each classroom. Classrooms with increased diversity scores showed a significantly lower prevalence of children with atopic sensitization, but not asthma. The risk of sensitization increased with increasing endotoxin exposure in classrooms. Similarly, significantly higher concentrations of Penicillium spp were found in classrooms with a higher number of children with atopic sensitization. Although no causal relationships could be established, exposure to higher fungal diversity was protective against allergic sensitization but this was not seen for asthma. In contrast, higher exposure to Gram-negative endotoxins and Penicillium spp in primary school's classrooms was associated with increasing odds of allergic sensitization in children.

Allergic sensitization at school age is a systemic low-grade inflammatory disorder.

Systemic low-grade inflammation has been demonstrated in a range of the frequent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) proposing a shared mechanism, but is largely unexplored in relation to allergic sensitization. We therefore aimed to investigate the possible association with childhood allergic sensitization. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8) were measured in plasma at age 6 months (N = 214) and 7 years (N = 277) in children from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood2000 (COPSAC2000 ) birth cohort. Allergic sensitization against common inhalant and food allergens was determined longitudinally at ages ½, 1½, 4 and 6 years by specific IgE assessments and skin prick tests. Associations between inflammatory biomarkers and sensitization phenotypes were tested with logistic regression and principal component analyses (PCAs). Adjusted for gender, recent infections, and a CRP genetic risk score, hs-CRP at 7 years was associated with concurrent elevated specific IgE against any allergen [adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.14-1.72; P = 0.001], aeroallergens (aOR, 1.43; 1.15-1.77; P = 0.001), food allergens (aOR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.02-1.67; P = 0.04), sensitization without any clinical allergy symptoms (aOR = 1.40; 1.06-1.85; P = 0.02), and with similar findings for skin prick tests. The other inflammatory markers were not univariately associated with sensitization, but multiparametric PCA suggested a specific inflammatory response among sensitized children. Inflammatory markers at age 6 months were not associated with subsequent development of sensitization phenotypes. Elevated hs-CRP is associated with allergic sensitization in school-aged children suggesting systemic low-grade inflammation as a phenotypic characteristic of this early-onset NCD.

P-13: Rates of Allergic Sensitization in Children With esophageal Atresia and Eosinophilic Esophagitis

P-13: Rates of Allergic Sensitization in Children With esophageal Atresia and Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Early indoor aeroallergen exposure is not associated with development of sensitization or allergic rhinitis in high-risk children.

Allergen exposure is associated with the development of allergic sensitization in childhood as reflected by global variations in sensitization patterns. However, there is little evidence to support a direct association. To investigate the association between perinatal aeroallergen exposure and sensitization and rhinitis to such allergens later in childhood. Allergic sensitization to cat, dog, and house dust mites was diagnosed longitudinally using skin prick tests and specific IgE measurements at ½, 1½, 4, 6, and 13 years in 399 children from the Copenhagen Prospective Study on Asthma in Childhood2000 birth cohort. Rhinitis was diagnosed at 7 and 13 years. Allergen exposure was defined as dog or cat in the home during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy or the first year of life and as allergen levels of dog, cat, and house dust mite in bed dust samples at 1 year. Associations between exposure and outcomes were analyzed by logistic regression and stratified for eczema status and test method (skin prick test and specific IgE). We found no association between dog or cat exposure in perinatal life and sensitization or rhinitis during childhood. Similarly, there was no association between levels of allergens in bed dust samples and sensitization or rhinitis during childhood. Perinatal indoor aeroallergen exposure does not seem to affect development of allergic sensitization or rhinitis during childhood questioning the relevance of allergen avoidance as a preventive measure. Other factors such as timing of allergen exposure or other environmental adjuvants may contribute in a more complex pathway to sensitization.

Current status of allergy prevalence in Germany: Position paper of the Environmental Medicine Commission of the Robert Koch Institute.

The lifetime prevalence of allergic diseases in adults in Germany [self-reported doctor diagnosed allergic diseases, Study on Adult Health in Germany (Studie zur Gesundheit Erwachsener in Deutschland, DEGS1, 2008–2011) of the Robert Koch Institute] is 8.6 % for asthma, 14.8 % for hay fever, 3.5 % for atopic dermatitis, 8.1 % for contact dermatitis, 4.7 % for food allergies, and 2.8 % for insect venom allergies. Almost 20 % of German adults are currently affected by at least one allergy.In tests on 50 common single allergens and two mixtures comprising either inhalant allergens or grass pollen allergens, 48.6 % of participants exhibited at least one allergic sensitization (specific IgE antibody detection). Overall, 33.6 % of participants were sensitized to inhalant allergens, 25.5 % to at least one food allergens, and 22.6 % to at least one insect venom allergens. A comparison of data on adults from 1998 [Federal Health Survey 1998 (Bundes-Gesundheitssurvey 1998, BGS98) of the Robert Koch Institute] and 2008–2011 (DEGS1) shows an increase in prevalence over time of almost three percentage points, while the rate of sensitization to inhalant allergens has increased from 29.8 % to 33.6 %. The prevalence of doctor diagnosed hay fever, atopic dermatitis, and food allergies, on the other hand, has remained virtually unchanged over the last 15 years.The Germany-wide lifetime prevalence of allergic diseases in children and adolescents [Study on the Health of Children and Adolescents in Germany (Studie zur Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland, KiGGS initial survey, 2003–2006) of the Robert Koch Institute] was 4.7 % for asthma, 10.7 % for hay fever, and 13.2 % for atopic dermatitis. Altogether, 40.8 % of German children and adolescents were sensitized to at least one of the inhalant or food allergens measured, while 20.0 % were sensitized to at least one food allergen. A marked increase in hay fever prevalence among East German children in the 1990s has resulted in an alignment of prevalence rates in East and West Germany. In contrast to adults, there was no longer a discernible difference in the prevalence of asthma, hay fever, and allergic sensitization in children between the western and eastern German federal states.In international comparisons with prevalence data from other studies, the participating German centers are in the lower third of the distribution of frequency for both children and adults.

Sensitization to food and inhalant allergens in healthy children in Van, East Turkey.

The purpose of this study was to determine the most frequent food and inhalant allergens leading to allergic sensitization in children in Van Province of Turkey. The study included 1052 serum samples with no diagnosis of allergy. The sera were tested with the Euroline Pediatric IgE test kit (EUROIMMUN, Germany). By using the EUROLineScan digital evaluation system, the intensity of bands was calculated with enzyme allergosorbent test classification. Out of the 1052 tested sera, 143 were found to be cross-reactive carbohydrate determinant-positive and were discarded from the study. Of the remaining 909 sera, 513 (56%) were from males and 296 (44%) were from females. Among the food allergens, specific IgE was most frequently found against codfish, potato, cow's milk, egg yolk, egg white, and rice, and among the inhalant allergens against cats, dogs, grass mix, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and Aspergillus fumigatus, respectively. The finding of codfish being the most frequent allergen was related to the high consumption of trout in the region and endemicity of pearl mullet in Lake Van. The results obtained could contribute to determining the etiology of allergic diseases. Additionally, regular analysis of changes in allergen sensitization is important for prevention of allergic disease.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Risk of Allergic Sensitisation in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

W Feleszko, M Ruszczynski, J Jaworska, A Strzelak, BM Zalewski, M Kulus. Arch Dis Child. 2014;99:985–992 Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in children is associated with respiratory infections, impaired lung function, and increased risk of asthma. The association between ETS and total and specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E has not been extensively investigated. The meta-analysis included studies with participants aged 0 to 18 years from nonselected, random populations reporting the effects of postnatal ETS exposure on total IgE (tIgE) …

Parental smoking and development of allergic sensitization from birth to adolescence.

BackgroundThe relation between secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure and the development of allergic sensitization in children is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether maternal smoking during pregnancy and postnatal SHS exposure contributes to the development of allergic sensitization in children and adolescents up to 16 years of age.MethodsWe included 3316 children from a birth cohort followed up for 16 years. SHS exposure and symptoms of allergic disease were assessed using repeated parental questionnaires. Serum immunoglobulin E against eight common inhalant and six food allergens was assessed at ages 4, 8, and 16 years with ImmunoCAP. The association between SHS exposure and sensitization was explored using logistic regression and generalized estimating equations.ResultsExposure to SHS in infancy without prior exposure in utero was associated with an excess risk of food sensitization at age 4 years (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.08–2.00), with comparable ORs at ages 8 and 16 years. In longitudinal analyses, an overall association was indicated between SHS in infancy and food sensitization up to age 16 years (OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.98–1.56). Maternal smoking during pregnancy was unrelated to sensitization up to 16 years of age. When sensitization was combined with concurrent symptoms of allergic disease, SHS in infancy was associated with an overall elevated risk of eczema with sensitization (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.20–2.18).Conclusions SHS exposure in infancy appears to increase the risk of sensitization to food allergens up to age 16 years, as well as eczema in combination with sensitization.

Airway resistance and allergic sensitization in children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to determine the airway resistance in Chinese children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by impulse oscilloetry (IOS) and investigate the association of the severity of OSAHS with the airway resistance and allergic sensitization. A total of 120 children (92 boys) treated for snoring in Beijing Children's Hospital between October 2010 and March 2011 were included in this study. Ninety-three children were diagnosed with OSAHS and 27 did not show OSAHS. Total airway resistance (R5), proximal airway resistance (R20), and peripheral airway resistance (X5) were determined by IOS. Serum levels of total IgE and allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) were also determined. R5 in the OSAHS group was significantly higher than that in the non-OSAHS group (P = 0.0025), whereas R20 and X5 were similar in the two groups. R5 was positively correlated with apnea hypopnea index and obstructive apnea index and negatively correlated with the lowest arterial oxygen saturation significantly (all P < 0.05). The percentage of children with abnormal serum levels of total IgE or abnormal allergen-specific IgEs was comparable in OSAHS and non-OSAHS groups. The proportions of abnormal R5 and of abnormal serum levels of total IgE were significantly higher in children with severe OSAHS compared with children with mild or moderate OSAHS (all P < 0.05). Total airway resistance was significantly increased in Children with OSAHS. Allergic sensitization might contribute to the exacerbation of existing OSAHS in children. Large scale studies are required to further validate these findings.

Blood lipid levels associate with childhood asthma, airway obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and aeroallergen sensitization

Studies of children's blood lipid profiles in relation to asthma are few, and the results are ambiguous. We sought to examine whether the lipid profile is associated with concurrent asthma, altered lung function, and allergic sensitization in children. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured at ages 5 to 7years in the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood2000 at-risk birth cohort. Asthma and allergic rhinitis were diagnosed based on predefined algorithms at age 7years along with assessments of lung function, bronchial responsiveness, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (Feno), and allergic sensitization. Associations between lipid levels and clinical outcomes were adjusted for sex, passive smoking, and body mass index. High levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with concurrent asthma (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.93; 95% CI, 1.06-3.55; P=.03) and airway obstruction: 50% of forced expiratory flow (aβ coefficient, -0.13L/s; 95% CI, -0.24 to -0.03L/s; P=.01) and specific airway resistance (aβ coefficient, 0.06kPa/s; 95% CI, 0.00-0.11kPa/s; P=.05). High levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with improved specific airway resistance (aβ coefficient, -0.11kPa/s; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.02; P=.02), decreased bronchial responsiveness (aβ coefficient, 0.53 log-μmol; 95% CI, 0.00-1.60 log-μmol; P=.05), decreased risk of aeroallergen sensitization (aOR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.01-0.70; P=.01), and a trend of reduced Feno levels (aβ coefficient, -0.22 log-ppb; 95% CI, -0.50 to 0.01 log-ppb; P=.06). High triglyceride levels were associated with aeroallergen sensitization (aOR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.14-3.56; P=.02) and a trend of increased Feno levels (aβ coefficient, 0.14 log-ppb; 95% CI, -0.02 to 0.30 log-ppb; P=.08). The blood lipid profile is associated with asthma, airway obstruction, bronchial responsiveness, and aeroallergen sensitization in 7-year-old children. These findings suggest that asthma and allergy are systemic disorders with commonalities with other chronic inflammatory disorders.

Perinatal Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Atopy at 1 Year of Age in a Multi-Center Canadian Birth Cohort Study.

BackgroundThe role of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure in the development of allergic sensitization in children is unclear, and few birth cohort studies have incorporated spatiotemporal exposure assessment.ObjectivesWe aimed to examine the association between TRAP and atopy in 1-year-old children from an ongoing national birth cohort study in four Canadian cities.MethodsWe identified 2,477 children of approximately 1 year of age with assessment of atopy for inhalant (Alternaria, Der p, Der f, cat, dog, cockroach) and food-related (milk, eggs, peanuts, soy) allergens. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was estimated from city-specific land use regression models accounting for residential mobility and temporal variability in ambient concentrations. We used mixed models to examine associations between atopy and exposure during pregnancy and the first year of life, including adjustment for covariates (maternal atopy, socioeconomic status, pets, mold, nutrition). We also conducted analyses stratified by time-location patterns, daycare attendance, and modeled home ventilation.ResultsFollowing spatiotemporal adjustment, TRAP exposure after birth increased the risk for development of atopy to any allergens [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) per 10 μg/m3 NO2 = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.41], but not during pregnancy (aOR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.86, 1.22). This association was stronger among children not attending daycare (aOR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.28, 2.01) compared with daycare attendees (aOR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.81, 1.28). Trends to increased risk were also found for food (aOR = 1.17; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.47) and inhalant allergens (aOR = 1.28; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.76).ConclusionUsing refined exposure estimates that incorporated temporal variability and residential mobility, we found that traffic-related air pollution during the first year of life was associated with atopy.CitationSbihi H, Allen RW, Becker A, Brook JR, Mandhane P, Scott JA, Sears MR, Subbarao P, Takaro TK, Turvey SE, Brauer M. 2015. Perinatal exposure to traffic-related air pollution and atopy at 1 year of age in a multi-center Canadian birth cohort study. Environ Health Perspect 123:902–908; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408700

Prevalence of allergic diseases and/or allergic sensitisation in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

BackgroundThe prevalence of atopic diseases in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) has been reported as lower. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of allergic diseases and allergic sensitisation in Brazilian children and adolescents with DM1. Patients and methods96 patients with DM1 (aged 4–18 years, 45 boys) followed for at least one year were evaluated for allergic disease through a detailed allergological anamnesis and skin prick tests (SPT) to inhalant allergens (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae, Blomia tropicalis, Blattella germanica, Periplaneta americana, dog epithelium, cat epithelium, mix fungi), foods (cow's milk, egg-white, yolk, soy, wheat, corn), and positive (histamine 1mg/ml) and negative (saline) controls. Wheals with a mean diameter of induration equal to or greater than 3mm identified a positive SPT. ResultsThe prevalence values of rhinitis, asthma and atopic eczema (isolated or associated) were 68.0%, 59.1% and 44.4%, respectively. 20.6% of the patients had no allergic disease. 46.8% of the patients had been diagnosed with DM1 for at least four years and there was no relationship between the period of DM1 and the presence of allergic disease, nor of the gender. 48.0% patients were sensitised with predominance of D. pteronyssinus, B. topicalis and D. farinae. The frequency of positive SPT was significantly higher among patients with history of allergic disease (OR=6.98, 95%CI: 2.60–18.74, p<0.001). ConclusionThe prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitisation in patients with DM1 was higher than usually expected and deserves further investigation to identify possible causes for these findings and to evaluate their importance and influence on the metabolic control.

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and risk of allergic sensitisation in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundEnvironmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in children is linked with the development of allergic asthma. However, its influence on allergic sensitisation in children has not been conclusively determined.ObjectiveTo systematically review...

Defective Respiratory Tract Immune Surveillance in Asthma: A Primary Causal Factor in Disease Onset and Progression

The relative importance of respiratory viral infections vs inhalant allergy in asthma pathogenesis is the subject of ongoing debate. Emerging data from long-term prospective birth cohorts are bringing increasing clarity to this issue, in particular through the demonstration that while both of these factors can contribute independently to asthma initiation and progression, their effects are strongest when they act in synergy to drive cycles of episodic airways inflammation. An important question is whether susceptibility to infection and allergic sensitization in children with asthma arises from common or shared defect(s). We argue here that susceptibility to recurrent respiratory viral infections, failure to generate protective immunologic tolerance to aeroallergens, and ultimately the synergistic interactions between inflammatory pathways triggered by concomitant responses to these agents all result primarily from functional deficiencies within the cells responsible for local surveillance for antigens impinging on airway surfaces: the respiratory mucosal dendritic cell (DC) network. The effects of these defects in DCs from children wtih asthma are accentuated by parallel attenuation of innate immune functions in adjacent airway epithelial cells that reduce their resistance to the upper respiratory viral infections, which are the harbingers of subsequent inflammatory events at asthma lesion site(s) in the lower airways. An important common factor underpinning the innate immune functions of these unrelated cell types is use of an overlapping series of pattern recognition receptors (exemplified by the Toll-like receptor family), and variations in the highly polymorphic genes encoding these receptors and related molecules in downstream signaling pathways appear likely contributors to these shared defects. Findings implicating recurrent respiratory infections in adult-onset asthma, much of which is nonatopic, suggest a similar role for deficient immune surveillance in this phenotype of the disease.

Prevention – what is the most promising approach?

Prevention – what is the most promising approach?

Prevalence Of Allergic Diseases and/Or Allergic Sensitization In Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Prevalence Of Allergic Diseases and/Or Allergic Sensitization In Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Meta-analysis of air pollution exposure association with allergic sensitization in European birth cohorts

Evidence on the long-term effects of air pollution exposure on childhood allergy is limited. We investigated the association between air pollution exposure and allergic sensitization to common allergens in children followed prospectively during the first 10 years of life. Five European birth cohorts participating in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects project were included: BAMSE (Sweden), LISAplus and GINIplus (Germany), MAAS (Great Britain), and PIAMA (The Netherlands). Land-use regression models were applied to assess the individual residential outdoor levels of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), the mass concentration of particles between 2.5 and 10 μm in size, and levels of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10), as well as measurement of the blackness of PM2.5 filters and nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide levels. Blood samples drawn at 4 to 6 years of age, 8 to 10 years of age, or both from more than 6500 children were analyzed for allergen-specific serum IgE against common allergens. Associations were assessed by using multiple logistic regression and subsequent meta-analysis. The prevalence of sensitization to any common allergen within the 5 cohorts ranged between 24.1% and 40.4% at the age of 4 to 6 years and between 34.8% and 47.9% at the age of 8 to 10 years. Overall, air pollution exposure was not associated with sensitization to any common allergen, with odds ratios ranging from 0.94 (95% CI, 0.63-1.40) for a 1 × 10(-5) ∙ m(-1) increase in measurement of the blackness of PM2.5 filters to 1.26 (95% CI, 0.90-1.77) for a 5 μg/m(3) increase in PM2.5 exposure at birth address. Further analyses did not provide consistent evidence for a modification of the air pollution effects by sex, family history of atopy, or moving status. No clear associations between air pollution exposure and development of allergic sensitization in children up to 10 years of age were revealed.

Air pollution exposure and allergic sensitization in children: a meta-analysis of five European birth cohorts within the ESCAPE project

Background: The evidence on long-term effects of air pollution exposure on childhood allergy is limited. Objective: We investigated the association between air pollution exposure and allergic sensitization to common allergens in children followed prospectively during the first 10 years of life. Methods: Five European birth cohorts participating in the ESCAPE project were included: BAMSE (Sweden), LISAplus and GINIplus (Germany), MAAS (Great Britain) and PIAMA (The Netherlands). Land-use regression models were applied to assess the individual residential outdoor levels of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter &lt;2.5 ?m (PM2.5), 2.5-10 ?m (PMcoarse), and &lt;10 ?m (PM10); PM2.5 absorbance, nitrogen dioxide, and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Blood samples drawn at 4-6 and/or 8-10 years from more than 6500 children were analyzed for allergen-specific serum IgE against common allergens. Associations were assessed by multiple logistic regression, and subsequent meta-analysis. Results: Overall, air pollution exposure was not associated with sensitization to any common allergen, with odds ratios ranging from 0.94 (95% CI, 0.63–1.40) for 1×10-5 m-1 increase in PM2.5 absorbance to 1.26 (0.90-1.77) for 5 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposure at birth address. However, subgroup analyses suggested a higher risk of sensitization in relation to air pollution exposure among boys (OR for PM2.5 exposure at birth address: 1.62 (95% CI, 1.05-2.50)) and in children who did not change address since birth (1.68, 95% CI, 1.03–2.75) for exposure to PM2.5 absorbance. Conclusion: No clear associations between air pollution exposure and development of allergic sensitization in children up to 10 years of age were revealed.

Formaldehyde exposure and allergic sensitization in children

Background Among the hazardous substances in the air, formaldehyde deserves special attention. Children with chronic formaldehyde exposure of 0,0005-0,0007 mg/(kg·day) show signs of respiratory all...