Association between fine particulate matter and eczema: A cross-sectional study of the All of Us Research Program and the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions.

<h4>Background</h4>The prevalence of eczema has increased with industrialization. Industrial practices generate ambient air pollution, including fine particulate matter of diameter ≤ 2.5μm (PM2.5). Studies investigating the relationship between PM2.5 and eczema in the US are scarce. The...

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Main Authors: Gloria F Chen, Erica Hwang, Charles E Leonard, Jeffrey M Cohen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310498
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author Gloria F Chen
Erica Hwang
Charles E Leonard
Jeffrey M Cohen
author_facet Gloria F Chen
Erica Hwang
Charles E Leonard
Jeffrey M Cohen
author_sort Gloria F Chen
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>The prevalence of eczema has increased with industrialization. Industrial practices generate ambient air pollution, including fine particulate matter of diameter ≤ 2.5μm (PM2.5). Studies investigating the relationship between PM2.5 and eczema in the US are scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of eczema with PM2.5 exposure in a diverse national cohort of American adults.<h4>Methods</h4>In this cross-sectional study, eczema cases in the All of Us Research Program were linked via three-digit zip code to average annual PM2.5 concentrations from the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions. Eczema cases and controls were compared using Pearson's χ2 test for categorical variables and one-way analysis of variance for continuous variables. The relationship between PM2.5 and eczema was assessed via logistic regression adjusting for demographic factors, smoking, and atopic comorbidities.<h4>Results</h4>Individuals with eczema (n = 12,695) lived in areas with significantly higher PM2.5 concentrations than did individuals without eczema (n = 274,127) (0.83 x 10 μg/m3 v. 0.81 x 10 μg/m3, P < .001). PM2.5 concentration was significantly associated with eczema in univariable analysis (odds ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.77-2.19, P < .001), and in multivariable analyses, both controlling for demographics and smoking status (odds ratio 2.21, 95% confidence interval 1.98-2.47, P < .001) and with the addition of atopic comorbidities (odds ratio 2.38, 95% confidence interval 2.12-2.67, P < .001).<h4>Conclusions</h4>The odds of eczema increased with greater PM2.5 concentration in this large, diverse, adult American cohort. Ambient air pollution is an environmental hazard that influences inflammatory skin disease, suggesting possible targeted interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-ab1019be06954b4da8015cb2e96a8a2f2025-08-20T03:43:55ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-011911e031049810.1371/journal.pone.0310498Association between fine particulate matter and eczema: A cross-sectional study of the All of Us Research Program and the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions.Gloria F ChenErica HwangCharles E LeonardJeffrey M Cohen<h4>Background</h4>The prevalence of eczema has increased with industrialization. Industrial practices generate ambient air pollution, including fine particulate matter of diameter ≤ 2.5μm (PM2.5). Studies investigating the relationship between PM2.5 and eczema in the US are scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of eczema with PM2.5 exposure in a diverse national cohort of American adults.<h4>Methods</h4>In this cross-sectional study, eczema cases in the All of Us Research Program were linked via three-digit zip code to average annual PM2.5 concentrations from the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions. Eczema cases and controls were compared using Pearson's χ2 test for categorical variables and one-way analysis of variance for continuous variables. The relationship between PM2.5 and eczema was assessed via logistic regression adjusting for demographic factors, smoking, and atopic comorbidities.<h4>Results</h4>Individuals with eczema (n = 12,695) lived in areas with significantly higher PM2.5 concentrations than did individuals without eczema (n = 274,127) (0.83 x 10 μg/m3 v. 0.81 x 10 μg/m3, P < .001). PM2.5 concentration was significantly associated with eczema in univariable analysis (odds ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.77-2.19, P < .001), and in multivariable analyses, both controlling for demographics and smoking status (odds ratio 2.21, 95% confidence interval 1.98-2.47, P < .001) and with the addition of atopic comorbidities (odds ratio 2.38, 95% confidence interval 2.12-2.67, P < .001).<h4>Conclusions</h4>The odds of eczema increased with greater PM2.5 concentration in this large, diverse, adult American cohort. Ambient air pollution is an environmental hazard that influences inflammatory skin disease, suggesting possible targeted interventions.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310498
spellingShingle Gloria F Chen
Erica Hwang
Charles E Leonard
Jeffrey M Cohen
Association between fine particulate matter and eczema: A cross-sectional study of the All of Us Research Program and the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions.
PLoS ONE
title Association between fine particulate matter and eczema: A cross-sectional study of the All of Us Research Program and the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions.
title_full Association between fine particulate matter and eczema: A cross-sectional study of the All of Us Research Program and the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions.
title_fullStr Association between fine particulate matter and eczema: A cross-sectional study of the All of Us Research Program and the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions.
title_full_unstemmed Association between fine particulate matter and eczema: A cross-sectional study of the All of Us Research Program and the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions.
title_short Association between fine particulate matter and eczema: A cross-sectional study of the All of Us Research Program and the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions.
title_sort association between fine particulate matter and eczema a cross sectional study of the all of us research program and the center for air climate and energy solutions
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310498
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