Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2012 Jul;4(4):178-183. 10.4168/aair.2012.4.4.178.

Diesel Exhaust Exposure, Wheezing and Sneezing

• Bernstein

• KMID: 1970705
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2012.4.4.178

Abstract

The rising incidence of allergic disorders in developed countries is unexplained. Exposure to traffic related air pollutants may be an important cause of wheezing and asthma in childhood. Experimental evidence from human studies suggests that diesel exhaust particles, constituents of fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), may act to enhance IgE mediated aeroallergen sensitization and Th2 directed cytokine responses. To date, epidemiologic investigations indicate that children living in close proximity to heavily travelled roads are more likely to be atopic and wheeze. The Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS) birth cohort study was initiated to test the hypothesis that early high exposure to traffic related air pollutants is associated with early aeroallergen sensitization and allergic respiratory phenotypes. Using an exposure cohort design, more than 700 infants born to atopic parents were recruited at age 1 living either less than 400 meters (high traffic pollutant exposure) or greater than 1,500 meters (low exposure) from a major road. Children were medically evaluated and underwent skin prick testing with aeroallergen at screening, and re-evaluated sequentially at ages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7. In this study, both proximity and land use regression (LUR) models of traffic air pollutant exposure have been assessed. Proximity to stop and go traffic with large concentrations of bus and truck traffic predicted persistent wheezing during infancy. The LUR model estimated elemental carbon attributable to traffic (ECAT) as a proxy for diesel exhaust particulate exposure. High ECAT was significantly associated with wheezing at age 1 as well as persistent wheezing at age 3. High mold exposure predicted a well defined asthma phenotype at age 7.

Keyword

Air pollution; childhood; asthma; allergy; diesel

MeSH Terms

Air Pollutants
Air Pollution
Asthma
Carbon
Child
Cohort Studies
Developed Countries
Fungi
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Immunoglobulin E
Incidence
Infant
Mass Screening
Motor Vehicles
Parents
Particulate Matter
Parturition
Phenotype
Proxy
Respiratory Sounds
Skin
Sneezing
Vehicle Emissions
Air Pollutants
Carbon
Immunoglobulin E
Particulate Matter
Vehicle Emissions