title: Traffic exposure and allergic sensitization against latex in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Latex antigens have been found in urban air samples and in debris deposited near freeways.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether exposure to road traffic in a large city is associated with allergic sensitization against latex in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based sample of 2505 children aged 5 to 11 years was examined in a cross-sectional study in the city of Dresden, Germany. Specific IgE levels against latex and a panel of common aeroallergens (timothy grass, rye, birch, mugwort, Cladosporium herbarum, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, cat dander, and dog dander) was determined by using a fluorescence immunoassay (CAP Pharmacia). Traffic exposure was assessed by (1) parental self-report on traffic frequency and truck traffic in the street of residence, (2) traffic counts, and (3) measurements of benzene at 182 points on a 1-km(2) grid for 1 year, which were used to estimate the children's individual exposure at the home address.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight hundred fifty-four (34.1%) of the children were sensitized against any of the allergens, and 150 (6.0%) had specific IgE (>0.35 kU/L) against latex. The prevalence of latex sensitization was not positively associated with self-reported traffic exposure, traffic counts in the street of residence (adjusted prevalence odds ratio for >5000 vs < or =5000 cars/d, 0.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-1.3), or benzene exposure (adjusted prevalence odds ratio for an increase of 1 microg/m(3) air, 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-1.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that exposure to road traffic is not associated with allergic sensitization to latex in children.
authors.affiliation: University Children's Hospital of the University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Neumeister
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Weiland
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: von Mutius
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gräfe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duhme
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Leupold
mesh_terms: D001336:Automobiles; D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001554:Benzene