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FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The cumulative effect of multiple indoor air pollutant exposures prenatally and early in life may influence allergies in 2-year-olds, according to a study published online Nov. 22 in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Mallory J. Gallant, from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues followed 108 mother-child pairs enrolled in the Kingston Allergy Birth Cohort from birth to 2 years of age to evaluate the effect of prenatal and early-life exposure to seven air-polluting factors on allergic sensitization at 2 years of age. Assessments of exposure to air fresheners, candles, mold, cats, dogs, carpet, and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) were conducted prenatally and at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years of age.<\/p>\n
The researchers found that exposure to candles during the prenatal window, cats at 6 months, and ETS at 2 years significantly increased the odds of a positive skin prick test (SPT; odds ratios for candles, cats, and ETS: 5.096, 4.267, and 3.78, respectively). Children with a positive SPT had significantly more exposures compared with children with negative SPTs. With an increasing total number of exposures, the percentage of SPT-positive children increased.<\/p>\n
“Children breathe more frequently per minute than adults, and mostly breathe through their mouths,” a coauthor said in a statement. “These differences could allow for air pollutants to penetrate more deeply into the lungs and at higher concentrations, making children more vulnerable to air pollutants.”<\/p>\n
One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n