Iana Markevych1, Romina Ludwig2, Clemens Baumbach3, Marie Standl4, Joachim Heinrich5, Gunda Herberth6, Kees de Hoogh7, Karin Pritsch8, Fabian Weikl8. 1. Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: iana.markevych@uj.edu.pl. 2. Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Faculty of Biology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Allergens in Ecosystems, Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany. 3. ENIANO GmbH, Munich, Germany. 4. Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany. 5. Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. 6. Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany. 7. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 8. Allergens in Ecosystems, Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We investigated whether residing in places with higher greenness, more trees and more allergenic trees early in life increases the risk of allergic outcomes, and whether these associations differ depending on the concentration of air pollutants. METHODS: The analytic sample included 631 children from the German birth cohort LISA Leipzig. Asthma and allergic rhinitis, sensitization to aeroallergens and food allergens, as well as confounders, were collected prospectively up to 15 years. Greenness was assessed by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). A tree registry was used to derive information on trees, which were classified into allergenic and non-allergenic. Annual average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone were also used. Geographic exposures were assigned to home addresses at birth. Longitudinal associations were analysed using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Medium and high numbers (tertiles) of trees and allergenic trees in a 500 m buffer around birth addresses were associated with increased odds of allergic rhinitis up to 15 years regardless of NDVI. These exposures were also related to higher odds of sensitization to aeroallergens. Associations with asthma and sensitization to food allergens were less consistent. Effect estimates for allergic rhinitis were stronger in the high tertile of NO2 compared to the low tertile, while an opposite tendency was observed for ozone. CONCLUSION: We observed that early life residence in places with many trees, and allergenic trees specifically, may increase the prevalence of allergic rhinitis later in life. This association and its modification by air pollution should be pursued in further studies.
BACKGROUND: We investigated whether residing in places with higher greenness, more trees and more allergenic trees early in life increases the risk of allergic outcomes, and whether these associations differ depending on the concentration of air pollutants. METHODS: The analytic sample included 631 children from the German birth cohort LISA Leipzig. Asthma and allergic rhinitis, sensitization to aeroallergens and food allergens, as well as confounders, were collected prospectively up to 15 years. Greenness was assessed by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). A tree registry was used to derive information on trees, which were classified into allergenic and non-allergenic. Annual average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone were also used. Geographic exposures were assigned to home addresses at birth. Longitudinal associations were analysed using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Medium and high numbers (tertiles) of trees and allergenic trees in a 500 m buffer around birth addresses were associated with increased odds of allergic rhinitis up to 15 years regardless of NDVI. These exposures were also related to higher odds of sensitization to aeroallergens. Associations with asthma and sensitization to food allergens were less consistent. Effect estimates for allergic rhinitis were stronger in the high tertile of NO2 compared to the low tertile, while an opposite tendency was observed for ozone. CONCLUSION: We observed that early life residence in places with many trees, and allergenic trees specifically, may increase the prevalence of allergic rhinitis later in life. This association and its modification by air pollution should be pursued in further studies.
Authors: Kim Hartley; Patrick H Ryan; Gordon L Gillespie; Joseph Perazzo; J Michael Wright; Glenn E Rice; Geoffrey H Donovan; Rebecca Gernes; Gurjit K Khurana Hershey; Grace LeMasters; Cole Brokamp Journal: Environ Health Date: 2022-05-12 Impact factor: 7.123
Authors: Alessandro Rigolon; Matthew H E M Browning; Olivia McAnirlin; Hyunseo Violet Yoon Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-04 Impact factor: 3.390