People living in areas with high air pollution are more likely to develop eczema, say researchers after a large cross-sectional study exploring the potential environmental impact of industrialisation on skin health in the US.
The scientists, from the Yale School of Medicine and led by Dr Jeffrey Cohen, found that residents in high PM2.5 areas are twice as likely to develop eczema, suggesting significant health implications of air pollution on skin conditions.
Eczema rates have been rising globally alongside industrial growth, hinting at a possible link to environmental factors, the researchers said in their findings, published in PLOS ONE.
Using data from the US National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Programme, which includes information from hundreds of thousands of American adults, the study focused on 286 862 people with available demographic details, area codes and health records.
The analysis showed that 12 695 participants (4.4%) had been diagnosed with eczema. After accounting for demographics and smoking status, researchers found that those with eczema were more likely to live in areas with high levels of PM2.5, a type of fine particulate matter in the air.
Notably, for every 10 µm/m³ increase in PM2.5 pollution, the likelihood of having eczema more than doubled.
The authors conclude that increased air pollution, as measured by PM2.5, may influence the risk of developing eczema, probably through its effects on the immune system.
Study details
Association between fine particulate matter and eczema: A cross-sectional study of the All of Us Research Programme and the Centre for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions
Gloria Chen, Erica Hwang, Charles Leonard, Jeffrey Cohen.
Published in PLOS ONE on 13 November 2024
Abstract
Background
The prevalence of eczema has increased with industrialisation. Industrial practices generate ambient air pollution, including fine particulate matter of diameter ≤ 2.5μm (PM2.5). Studies investigating the relationship between PM2.5 and eczema in the US are scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of eczema with PM2.5 exposure in a diverse national cohort of American adults.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, eczema cases in the All of Us Research Program were linked via three-digit zip code to average annual PM2.5 concentrations from the Centre for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions. Eczema cases and controls were compared using Pearson’s χ2 test for categorical variables and one-way analysis of variance for continuous variables. The relationship between PM2.5 and eczema was assessed via logistic regression adjusting for demographic factors, smoking, and atopic comorbidities.
Results
Individuals with eczema (n = 12,695) lived in areas with significantly higher PM2.5 concentrations than did individuals without eczema (n = 274,127) (0.83 x 10 μg/m3 v. 0.81 x 10 μg/m3, P < .001). PM2.5 concentration was significantly associated with eczema in univariable analysis (odds ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.77–2.19, P < .001), and in multivariable analyses, both controlling for demographics and smoking status (odds ratio 2.21, 95% confidence interval 1.98–2.47, P < .001) and with the addition of atopic comorbidities (odds ratio 2.38, 95% confidence interval 2.12–2.67, P < .001).
Conclusions
The odds of eczema increased with greater PM2.5 concentration in this large, diverse, adult American cohort. Ambient air pollution is an environmental hazard that influences inflammatory skin disease, suggesting possible targeted interventions.
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