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

Abstract

Background: The associations between short- and long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM_2.5) 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) PM_2.5 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 PM_2.5 exposure concentrations and long-term exposure models were additionally adjusted for short-term deviations.

Results: A 10 µg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 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 PM_2.5 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 PM_2.5 concentrations. These associations between long-term PM_2.5 concentration and allergic symptoms were generally unchanged after adjustment for short-term deviations.

Conclusions: Short- and long-term exposure to ambient PM_2.5 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).

Keywords: Allergic symptoms; Ambient fine particulate matter; Short- and long-term exposure.