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, 

…

Guangfa Wang

Respir Res 24, 139 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-023-02433-2

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.

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