Respiratory Research (May 2023)

Ambient fine particulate matter and allergic symptoms in the middle-aged and elderly population: results from the PIFCOPD study

  • Shanshan Wei,
  • Jiping Liao,
  • Tao Xue,
  • Kunyao Yu,
  • Xiuhua Fu,
  • Ruiying Wang,
  • Xiaomin Dang,
  • Cheng Zhang,
  • Hua Qiao,
  • Shujuan Jiang,
  • Jianhong Xiao,
  • Lixia Dong,
  • Jinzhi Yin,
  • Xixin Yan,
  • Weihua Jia,
  • Guifang Zhang,
  • Rui Chen,
  • Bo Zhou,
  • Beibei Song,
  • Jing Li,
  • Mengyu Yin,
  • Lina Zhang,
  • Liping Xie,
  • Shaochen Dong,
  • Jian Sun,
  • Peng Gao,
  • Bifang Miao,
  • Wei Li,
  • Lan He,
  • Qian Ning,
  • Limin Zhao,
  • Hengyi Liu,
  • Han Cao,
  • Guangfa Wang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-023-02433-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background The associations between short- and long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and allergic symptoms in middle-aged and elderly populations remain unclear, particularly in China, where most cities have severe air pollution. Methods Participants (n = 10,142; age = 40–75 years) were recruited from ten regions in China from 2018 to 2021 for the Predictive Value of Inflammatory Biomarkers and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (PIFCOPD) study. Short-term (lag0 and lag0–7 day) and long-term (1-, 3- and 5-year) PM2.5 concentrations at residences were extracted from the air pollutant database known as Tracking Air Pollution (TAP) in China. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate associations for short- and long-term PM2.5 exposure concentrations and long-term exposure models were additionally adjusted for short-term deviations. Results A 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 on the day the allergic symptoms questionnaire was administered (lag0 day) was associated with higher odds of allergic nasal (1.09, 95% CI 1.05, 1.12) and eye symptoms (1.08, 95% CI 1.05, 1.11), worsening dyspnea caused by allergens (1.06, 95% CI 1.02, 1.10), and ≥ 2 allergic symptoms (1.07, 95% CI 1.03, 1.11), which was similar in the lag0–7 day concentrations. A 10 µg/m3 increase in the 1-year average PM2.5 concentration was associated with an increase of 23% for allergic nasal symptoms, 22% for eye symptoms, 20% for worsening dyspnea caused by allergens, and 21% for ≥ 2 allergic symptoms, similar to the 3- and 5-year average PM2.5 concentrations. These associations between long-term PM2.5 concentration and allergic symptoms were generally unchanged after adjustment for short-term deviations. Conclusions Short- and long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 was associated with an increased risk of allergic nasal and eye symptoms, worsening dyspnea caused by allergens, and ≥ 2 allergic symptoms. Trial registration Clinical trial ID: NCT03532893 (29 Mar 2018).

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