Outdoor Air Pollution and Indoor Window Condensation Associated with Childhood Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis to Pollen

Abstract

Pollen is the main factor causing asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). However, the key indoor and outdoor factors associated with childhood symptoms of allergic rhinitis (SAR) to pollen are unclear. We investigate the association of exposure to outdoor air pollution and indoor environmental factors with childhood SAR to pollen and consider SAR to pollen in different seasons. A cross-sectional study of 2598 preschool children aged 3–6 was conducted in Changsha, China (2011–2012). The prevalence of SAR to pollen in children and information on indoor environmental factors were obtained by questionnaire. Children’s exposure to outdoor air pollutants (PM10, SO2, and NO2) was estimated from the monitored concentrations. The association of exposure to indoor environmental factors and outdoor air pollution with childhood SAR to pollen was estimated by multiple logistic regression models using odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI), and the relationship between outdoor air pollutants and childhood SAR to pollen was investigated using restricted cubic splines. We found that early-life and current exposure to outdoor air pollution were significantly associated with childhood SAR to pollen in autumn, including exposure to SO2 one year before conception (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.08–2.37) and during entire pregnancy (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.01–2.20) periods, exposure to PM10 during the current period (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.07–2.96), and exposure to NO2 during the early-life (one year before conception and entire pregnancy) and current periods with ORs (95% CI) of 1.72 (1.10–2.71), 1.82 (1.17–2.83), and 1.94 (1.11–3.40), respectively. Further, we found significant associations of both prenatal and postnatal exposure to window condensation with childhood SAR to pollen, with ORs (95% CI) = 1.37 (1.05–1.77) and 1.38 (1.02–1.88), respectively. We encourage SAR to pollen sufferers to stay indoors due to outdoor air pollution and higher pollen concentration outdoors, but indoor ventilation should be maintained.