title: Exposure to ambient bioaerosols is associated with allergic skin diseases in Greater Taipei residents.
abstract: Allergic skin diseases may result from various types of chemical and biological allergens. This study investigated the association between ambient bioaerosol exposure and allergic skin diseases by using the exposure data obtained from land use regression models and interpolated data. Data on daily average outpatient visits for atopic dermatitis (ICD-9-CM 691.8) and contact dermatitis and other eczema (ICD-9-CM 692.9) between November 2011 and August 2012 were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database. A generalized estimating equation was used to analyze the associations between the skin diseases and ambient bioaerosol levels. The results indicated that during the study period, contact dermatitis and other eczema were more prevalent than atopic dermatitis in the study area. Most cases were observed in districts of Taipei City and 3 major districts of New Taipei City, namely Xinzhuang, Banqiao, and Xindian. In univariate analysis, most bioaerosols were positively associated with both skin diseases. After adjustment for air pollution and sociodemographic factors, exposure to total fungal spores was significantly associated with atopic dermatitis in males (relative risk [RR] = 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-1.19). Contact dermatitis and other eczema had significant relationships with Cladosporium in males (RR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02-1.14) and with Aspergillus/Penicillium in females (RR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.02-1.07). Meteorological parameters, namely wind speed, temperature, and rainfall, were also significantly associated with skin diseases. Our findings reveal that exposure to ambient bioaerosols is a significant and independent risk factor for allergic skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kraiwuth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kallawicha
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ying-Chih
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Chun Candice
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lung
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Bor-Cheng
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: hchao@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hsing Jasmine
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D002947:Cities; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens
keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Bioaerosols; Contact dermatitis; Eczema; Land use regression