Early-Life, Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter in Infants
with Atopic Dermatitis Decreases Remission and Increases Sensitization
Abstract
Background: Studies that examine a link between long-term
exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) and atopic dermatitis (AD)
in children are lacking. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate
the effect of long-term exposure to PM on AD in infants.
Methods: A total of 150 infants diagnosed with AD before age 2
were enrolled and followed until age 3 in Seoul, Korea. Long-term
exposures to ambient PM with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM
10) from birth to age 3 were assessed at an individual
level. Effects of long-term exposure to PM 10 on AD
persistence and sensitization to aeroallergens were evaluated using Cox
proportional hazard regression models after adjusting for potential
confounders. Results: Out of 150 infants, 54 (36.0%) showed
remission of AD at age 3. The risk of AD persistence at age 3
significantly increased with an increase in long-term exposure to PM
10 [Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.07, 95% Confidence Interval
(CI): 1.01−1.12, p = .017 per 1 µg/m 3].
Moderate-to-severe AD at enrollment was more likely to persist at age 3
with increased exposure to PM 10 ( p <
.05), whereas the persistence of mild AD was not influenced by PM
10 exposure. Long-term exposure to PM 10
increased the risk of sensitization to pollen (HR = 1.14, 95% CI:
1.02−1.27, p = .021). However, it did not affect sensitization to
house dust mites or pet allergens. Conclusions: An early-life
long-term exposure to ambient PM 10 in infants with AD
decreases remission and increases sensitization to pollen at age 3.