Journal List > Allergy Asthma Respir Dis > v.3(3) > 1059099

TOOLS
Seo, Kang, Lim, Choung, and Yoo: Indoor air pollutants and atopic dermatitis in socioeconomically disadvantaged children
Original Article

Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease 2015; 3(3): 206-212.

Published online: 29 May 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2015.3.3.206

Indoor air pollutants and atopic dermatitis in socioeconomically disadvantaged children

Sung Chul Seo1, In Soon Kang1, Soo Gil Lim2, Ji Tae Choung1, 3, Young Yoo1, 3, 4

1Environmental Health Center for Childhood Asthma, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

2Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, Seoul, Korea.

3Department of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

4Allergy and Immunology Center, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence to: Young Yoo. Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Anam Hospital, 73 Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-705, Korea. Tel: +82-2-920-5090, Fax: +82-2-922-7476, yoolina@korea.ac.kr

Received 30 January 2015       Revised 17 April 2015       Accepted 17 April 2015

© 2015 The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease; The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/).

Abstract

Purpose

The aims of this study were to examine indoor concentrations of air pollutants in socioeconomically disadvantaged houses and to investigate relationships between indoor air pollutant levels and the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Methods

A total of 54 children who had a past history or current symptoms of AD were enrolled in the study. To evaluate the levels of indoor air pollutants, we measured concentrations of CO2, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde, particulate matter with diameter less than 10 µm (PM10), airborne mold and numbers of house dust mite (HDM) in dust of the children's houses. All studied subjects completed physical examination for the severity of AD and blood tests.

Results

Although the mean (±standard deviation [SD]) concentration of indoor CO2 (600.6±179.4 ppm) was lower than the standard recommended levels of multiplex buildings in Korea, there was a significant correlation between CO2 concentrations and the severity of AD (r=0.302, P=0.030). The geometric means (range of 1 SD) of TVOC (42.5 µg/m3 [22.2-81.5]), formaldehyde (24.3 µg/m3 [15.0-39.9]), PM10 (26.6 µg/m3 [14.6-48.4]), and airborne mold (49.9 CFU [colony forming unit]/m3 [26.3-94.6]) were not significantly higher than the standard recommended levels of multiplex buildings. Two-thirds of the subjects were sensitized to at least 1 of the common allergens.

Conclusion

Generally, indoor air pollution was not serious in socioeconomically disadvantaged households. However, indoor CO2 concentrations are closely related to the severity of AD in children living in socioeconomically disadvantaged houses. Environmental amelioration targeting vulnerable population may improve the quality of life and decrease the prevalence of environmental allergic diseases.

Keywords: Atopic dermatitis, Child, Indoor air pollution

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Correlations between indoor CO2 concentrations and SCORAD index in socioeconomically disadvantaged children. SCORAD, SCORing Atopic Dermatitis.

aard-3-206-g001
Table 1

General characteristics of subjects in this study

aard-3-206-i001
Characteristic Value
Age (yr) 7.4 ± 3.4
Boys/girls 29/25
SCORAD index 17.3 ± 16.5
Hemoglobin (g/dL) 12.8 ± 0.7
ALT (IU/L) 16.3 ± 10.7
AST (IU/L) 29.4 ± 7.3
Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 149.0 ± 22.7
Blood eosinophil (%) 2.94 (1.32-6.55)
Eosinophil cationic protein (µg/L) 11.7 (5.05-27.1)
Total IgE (IU/mL) 79.8 (13.9-459.4)

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation (SD) or geometric mean (range of 1SD).

SCORAD, SCORing Atopic Dermatitis; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase.

Table 2

Pulmonary function parameters and FeNO levels of the studied subjects

aard-3-206-i002
Parameter Value
FEV1 (%predicted) 92.3 ± 10.4
FVC (%predicted) 93.6 ± 9.3
FEV1/FVC (%) 90.4 ± 3.5
FEF25%-75% (%predicted) 103.3 ± 20.5
FeNO (ppb) 20.5 (11.0-38.1)

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation (SD) or geometric mean (range of 1SD).

FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEF25%-75%, forced expiratory flow at 25%-75% of forced vital capacity; FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide.

Table 3

Prevalence of sensitization to the allergen groups in the studied subjects

aard-3-206-i003
Allergen group No. of positive cases (%)
House dust mite 14 (25.9)
Animal dander 3 (5.6)
Pollen 5 (9.3)
Mold 3 (5.6)
Cockroach 0 (0)
Food 12 (22.2)

House dust mite: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae; Animal dander: cat, dog; Pollen: alder, oak, ryegrass, mugwort, ragweed, Japanese hop; Mold: Aspergillus, Alternaria, Candida species; Cockroach, Food: milk, soy bean, egg white, wheat, shrimp, peanut.

Table 4

Concentrations of indoor pollutants in dwellings of the studied subjects

aard-3-206-i004
Indoor pollutant Value
CO2 (ppm) 600.6 ± 179.4
Total VOC (µg/m3) 42.5 (22.2-81.5)
Formaldehyde (µg/m3) 24.3 (15.0-39.9)
PM10 (µg/m3) 26.6 (14.6-48.4)
Airborne mold (CFU/m3) 49.9 (26.3-94.6)
House dust mite (n) 36.2 (16.6-79.0)

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation (SD) or geometric mean (range of 1SD).

VOC, volatile organic compounds; PM, particulate matter; CFU, colony forming unit. House dust mite: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae.

Table 5

Associations between SCORAD index and, health outcomes and indoor pollutants levels in dwellings of the studied subjects

aard-3-206-i005
Health outcome r P-value Indoor pollutants r P-value
Hemoglobin -0.099 0.485 CO2 0.302 0.030
Total cholesterol -0.092 0.303 Total VOC 0.263 0.060
Eosinophil 0.184 0.190 Formaldehyde 0.106 0.454
Total IgE 0.135 0.338 Airborne mold 0.135 0.340
FEV1/FVC -0.099 0.662 House dust mite 0.261 0.062

SCORAD, SCORing Atopic Dermatitis; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC, forced vital capacity; VOC, volatile organic compounds.

References

1. Baek JO, Hong S, Son DK, Lee JR, Roh JY, Kwon HJ. Analysis of the prevalence of and risk factors for atopic dermatitis using an ISAAC questionnaire in 8,750 Korean children. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2013; 162:79–85.
crossref
2. Bakke JV, Wieslander G, Norback D, Moen BE. Eczema increases susceptibility to PM10 in office indoor environments. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2012; 67:15–21.
3. Ahn K. The role of air pollutants in atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014; 134:993–999.
crossref
4. Seo S, Kim D, Paul C, Yoo Y, Choung JT. Exploring household-level risk factors for self-reported prevalence of allergic diseases among low-income households in Seoul, Korea. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2014; 6:421–427.
crossref
5. Wen HJ, Chen PC, Chiang TL, Lin SJ, Chuang YL, Guo YL. Predicting risk for early infantile atopic dermatitis by hereditary and environmental factors. Br J Dermatol. 2009; 161:1166–1172.
crossref
6. Matsunaga I, Miyake Y, Yoshida T, Miyamoto S, Ohya Y, Sasaki S, et al. Ambient formaldehyde levels and allergic disorders among Japanese pregnant women: baseline data from the Osaka maternal and child health study. Ann Epidemiol. 2008; 18:78–84.
crossref
7. Ou CQ, Hedley AJ, Chung RY, Thach TQ, Chau YK, Chan KP, et al. Socioeconomic disparities in air pollution-associated mortality. Environ Res. 2008; 107:237–244.
crossref
8. O'Neill MS, Jerrett M, Kawachi I, Levy JI, Cohen AJ, Gouveia N, et al. Health, wealth, and air pollution: advancing theory and methods. Environ Health Perspect. 2003; 111:1861–1870.
9. Hanifin JM, Rajka G. Diagnostic features of atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh). 1980; 2:44–47.
10. Severity scoring of atopic dermatitis: the SCORAD index. Consensus Report of the European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatology. 1993; 186:23–31.
11. Beydon N, Davis SD, Lombardi E, Allen JL, Arets HG, Aurora P, et al. An official American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement: pulmonary function testing in preschool children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007; 175:1304–1345.
crossref
12. Dweik RA, Boggs PB, Erzurum SC, Irvin CG, Leigh MW, Lundberg JO, et al. An official ATS clinical practice guideline: interpretation of exhaled nitric oxide levels (FENO) for clinical applications. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011; 184:602–615.
crossref
13. Seo SC, Dong SH, Kang IS, Yeun KN, Choung JT, Yoo Y, et al. The clinical effects of forest camp on children with atopic dermatitis. J Korean Ins For Recreation. 2012; 6:21–31.
14. Kang MS. A survey of biological contaminations in a residential environment of the selected disadvantaged households [dissertation]. Seoul: Korea University;2011.
15. Dei-Cas I, Dei-Cas P, Acuna K. Atopic dermatitis and risk factors in poor children from Great Buenos Aires, Argentina. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2009; 34:299–303.
crossref
16. Kim HO, Kim JH, Cho SI, Chung BY, Ahn IS, Lee CH, et al. Improvement of atopic dermatitis severity after reducing indoor air pollutants. Ann Dermatol. 2013; 25:292–297.
crossref
17. Dust mite allergens and asthma: a worldwide problem. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1989; 83(2 Pt 1):416–427.
18. World Health Organization. Environment and health risks: a review of the influence and effects of social inequalities. Geneva: World Health Organization;2010.
19. Cho YM, Ryu SH, Choi MS, Seo SC, Choung JT, Choi JW. Airborne fungi concentrations and related factors in the home. J Environ Health Sci. 2013; 39:438–446.
crossref
20. Seo SC, Cho YM, Ryu SH, Lee SK, Lee JY, Choung JT. Evaluation of effectiveness for an atopy prevention program operated by a local government. J Environ Health Sci. 2013; 39:383–390.
crossref
TOOLS
Similar articles