The relationships between ambient air pollutants and childhood asthma and eczema are modified by emotion and conduct problems.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

This study examined the hypothesis that emotion and conduct problems (ECPs) may modify the relationships between ambient air pollutants and childhood asthma and eczema.

METHODS:

In the cross-sectional study, 4209 French schoolchildren (aged 10e12 years) were investigated between March 1999 and October 2000. Ambient air pollutants exposures were estimated with dispersion modeling. Health outcomes and ECPs were evaluated by validated questionnaires, completed by the parents. Marginal models were used to analyze the relationships of exposures to ambient air pollutants and/or ECPs to asthma phenotypes and current eczema, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS:

In our population, interactions were found between ECPs and exposures to ambient air pollutants (benzene, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter below 10 mm, volatile organic compounds) (P < .20). In addition, ECPs were related to current wheezing (adjusted prevalence odds ratio [aOR], 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59e3.47), current doctor-diagnosed asthma (aOR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.25e2.66), and current eczema (aOR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.61e3.02). Children with ECPs had 1.17e1.51 times higher aORs for the associations between ambient air pollutants and asthma phenotypes and current eczema than those without ECPs.

CONCLUSIONS:

ECPs may modify the relationships between ambient air pollutants and childhood asthma and eczema.

• Authors: Cailiang Zhou, Nour Baïz, Soutrik Banerjee, Denis André Charpin, Denis Caillaud, Fréderic de Blay, Chantal Raherison, François Lavaud, Isabella Annesi-Maesano
• Journal: Annals of epidemiology (Ann Epidemiol) Vol. 23 Issue 12 Pg. 778-83 (Dec 2013) ISSN: 1873-2585 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24404567 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Air Pollutants
• Nitrogen Oxides
• Particulate Matter
• Carbon Monoxide
• Benzene

Topics

• Air Pollutants (adverse effects)
• Asthma (epidemiology, etiology, psychology)
• Benzene (adverse effects)
• Carbon Monoxide (adverse effects)
• Child
• Child Behavior (psychology)
• Child Behavior Disorders (diagnosis, epidemiology, psychology)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Eczema (epidemiology, etiology, psychology)
• Emotions
• Environmental Exposure
• Female
• France (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Internal-External Control
• Male
• Nitrogen Oxides (adverse effects)
• Particulate Matter (adverse effects)
• Prevalence
• Surveys and Questionnaires