title: Association of pollution and climate with atopic eczema in US children.
abstract: We sought to determine the relationship between childhood eczema, climate, and environmental pollutants.
  
  
  
  We analyzed data from the 2007-2008 National Survey of Children's Health including a representative sample of 91,642 children age 0-17 years and the 2006-2007 Environmental Protection Agency measurements of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrate (NO3 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ), organic carbon (OC), sulfate (SO3 ), sulfur dioxide (SO2 ), particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM-2.5) and <10 μm (PM-10), and tropospheric ozone levels, and the National Climate Data Center measurements of relative humidity (%), issued UV index, outdoor air temperature, and precipitation levels.
  
  
  
  In multivariate survey logistic regression models controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, US birthplace, and history of moving to a new location, eczema was associated with higher mean annual NO2 (p = 0.008), SO2 (p = 0.006), SO3 (p = 0.0002), arsenic (p = 0.0007), nickel (p = 0.0002), lead (p = 0.03), vanadium (p < 0.0001), and zinc (p = 0.003), but lower NO3 (p = 0.002), OC (p = 0.03), PM-2.5 (p = 0.006), cadmium (p < 0.0001), copper (p = 0.004), and potassium (p < 0.0001). In contrast, moderate-severe eczema was associated with higher NO3 (p = 0.03), OC (p = 0.008) and PM-2.5 (p = 0.01), copper (p = 0.04), lead (p = 0.008), and zinc (p = 0.01), but lower CO (p = 0.03). Principal component analysis was used and identified 4 combinations of pollutants and climate factors occurring in the USA, of which 1 was associated with higher prevalence and two were associated with lower prevalences of eczema (p < 0.05).
  
  
  
  Pollutants in conjunction with climate factors may differentially impact eczema prevalence and severity, some with apparent harmful effects.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Kathuria
authors: Departments of Dermatology, Preventive Medicine and Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.|Northwestern Medicine Multidisciplinary Eczema Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: J I
authors: JI
authors: Silverberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002980:Climate; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D010126:Ozone; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide
keywords: air pollutants; air temperature; atopic dermatitis; children; climate; eczema prevalence; eczema severity; nitrate; nitrogen dioxide; ozone; particulate matter under 10 μm; particulate matter under 2.5 μm; pediatric; relative humidity; small-particle air pollution; sulfate; sulfur dioxide; ultraviolet index