Blame Allergies on Childhood Exposure to Air Pollution

According to a new study, exposing self to outdoor air pollution in the first year of life enhances one’s risk of developing allergies to mould, food, pests and pets. The study was conducted by The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development and showed that sensitivity to allergens was linked to exposure to traffic-related air pollution at the time of infancy. The senior author of the study, Michael Brauer of the University of British Columbia said that the increasing level of allergies in children in Canada as well as in other places got them to determine if air pollution from traffic may be partially responsible. He added that the study is first of its kind to find a link between air pollution and measured allergic sensitization during the first year.

While it was seen that the infants exposed to air pollution were at greater risk, the researchers did not find a link between mother exposed to air pollution at the time of pregnancy and allergy risk in the children. The study had also found that children living with furry pets and no attached garage were highly likely to develop sensitivity to allergens.

The first author of the study, Hind Sbihi said that understanding the type of environmental exposures in one’s early life can affect allergy development that can tailor preventative measures for children.

The study has been published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

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