title: The impact of atmospheric pollutants on the prevalence of atopic eczema in 6-7-year-old schoolchildren in Spain; ISAAC Phase III.
abstract: Atopic Eczema (AE) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects children and adults, and alters quality of life with a high morbidity rate and severe economic burden. The objective of the present work was to analyse specific atmospheric pollutants (O3, NO, PM10 and SO2) affecting the prevalence of diagnosed AE and its symptoms among 6-7-year-old schoolchildren.The participants included 21311 schoolchildren aged 6-7 years from 8 Spanish regions, whose parents completed the ISAAC Phase III questionnaire to ascertain AE diagnosis and symptoms. The mean levels (µg/m3) of O3, NO, PM10 (particles 10 micrometers or less in diameter) and SO2 were determined in each geographical area. Participating in this study.According to these mean levels, three levels of exposure to each pollutant were considered: level 1 (percentiles 0-25); level 2 (percentiles 26-74); level 3 (percentiles 75-100). Exposure to O3 was associated with increased prevalence of rashes (exposure level 2, Odds Ratio (OR): 1.22, 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI): 1.02-1.45; level 3 OR: 1.33, 95%CI: 1.10-1.61) and diagnosed AE (level 2, OR: 1.27, 95%CI: 1.17-1.39; level 3 OR: 1.27, 95%CI: 1.15-1.41). An association was found between the level of NO and a drop in the prevalence of diagnosed AE (exposure level 2, OR: 0.88, 95%CI: 0.81-0.95; level 3 OR: 0.85, 95%CI: 0.74-0.97). There was also an association between the highest exposure level to PM10 and a reduced prevalence of rashes (level 3 OR: 0.42, 95%CI: 0.22-0.81) and diagnosed AE (level 3 OR: 0.53, 95%CI: 0.38-0.75). Future studies into exposure to O3 and its relationship with allergic diseases may be conducted in order to prevent this association.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Public Health, Hygiene, and Environmental Care, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain and CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain and Center for Public Health Research (CSISP), Valencia, Spain. maria.m.morales@uv.es.
authors.forename: María Morales
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Suárez-Varela
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallardo-Juan
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García-Marcos
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gimeno-Clemente
authors.forename: Angel López
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Silvarrey-Varela
authors.forename: Iñaqui
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miner-Canflanca
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Batlles-Garrido
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanco-Quiros
authors.forename: Rosa María
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Busquets-Monge
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Aurrecoechea
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arnedo-Pena
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Díaz
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aguinaga-Ontoso
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Gimeno
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llopis-González
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants