Air pollution and IgE sensitization in 4 European birth cohorts—the MeDALL project
Erik Melén, Marie Standl, Ulrike Gehring, Hicran Altuğ, Josep M. Antó, Dietrich Berdel, Anna Bergström, Jean Bousquet, Joachim Heinrich, Gerard H. Koppelman, Inger Kull, Christian Lupinek, Iana Markevych, Tamara Schikowski, Elisabeth Thiering, Rudolf Valenta, Marianne van Hage, Andrea von Berg, Judith M. Vonk, Magnus Wickman, Alet H. Wijga, Olena Gruzieva
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Whether long-term exposure air to pollution has effects on allergic sensitization is controversial. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate associations of air pollution exposure at birth and at the time of later biosampling with IgE sensitization against common food and inhalant allergens, or specific allergen molecules, in children aged up to 16 years. METHODS: filters); and nitrogen oxides levels. Blood samples drawn at ages 4 to 6 (n = 5989), 8 to 10 (n = 6603), and 15 to 16 (n = 5825) years were analyzed for IgE sensitization to allergen extracts by ImmunoCAP. Additionally, IgE against 132 allergen molecules was measured by using the MedALL microarray chip (n = 1021). RESULTS: increase in exposure). CONCLUSION: Air pollution exposure does not seem to increase the overall risk of allergic sensitization; however, sensitization to birch as well as grass pollen Phl p 1 and cat Fel d 1 allergen molecules may be related to specific pollutants.