We know that automobile emissions are bad for the environment – now, new research shows they could make your children more susceptible to allergies as well.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. traffic-related pollution may increase the risk of allergy and atopic diseases among children by more than 50 per cent. And children living near roadways face a greater risk, says the study’s author.
“(Children) living very close to a major road are likely to be exposed not only to a higher amount of traffic-derived particles and gases but also to more freshly emitted aerosols which may be more toxic,” wrote head researcher Joachim Heinrich of the German Research Center for Environment and Health in Munich.
The study examined nearly 2,900 4-year-olds and more than 3,000 6-year-olds in the Munich area to determine their rates of doctor-diagnosed asthma and/or allergy with relation to long-term exposure to traffic-related pollution. Parents were given questionnaires about their child’s respiratory diagnoses and symptoms, and their children were assessed for asthma, wheezing, sneezing and eczema.
Researchers found significant associations between distance to the nearest road and asthmatic bronchitis, hay fever, eczema and allergic sensitizations in the young subjects. They also found a relationship between proximity to the road and risk of allergic sensitization, with children living closest to major roads having a nearly 50 per cent greater risk of allergic sensitization.
“Our findings provide strong evidence for the adverse effects of traffic-related air pollutants on atopic diseases as well as on allergic sensitization,” wrote Dr. Heinrich.
(American Thoracic Society)