Association of allergen sensitization and air pollution in childhood asthma and allergic rhinitis: a single-center study

Background: Ambient air pollution has been linked to the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases in children. Exposure to air pollution increases the incidence of asthma and allergic rhinitis and is also known to be associated with inhalant allergen sensitization.Methods: From 2011 to 2024, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 313 children in Busan, Korea, with asthma and allergic rhinitis who underwent allergen testing for house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae), animal dander, tree pollen, grass pollen, weed pollen, mold (Alternaria alternata), and cockroach. Ambient air pollutant concentrations of O3, SO₂, CO, NO₂, particulate matter (PM) ≤10 µm (PM10) and PM ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) were obtained from measurement sites located near the residences of the study subjects.Results: Among the 313 subjects, 94 had asthma, 137 had allergic rhinitis, and 82 had combined asthma and allergic rhinitis. In children who experienced allergic rhinitis symptoms, changes in PM10, PM2.5, maximum SO2 concentration, and maximum NO2 concentration showed positive correlations (correlation coefficients, 0.60, 0.56, 0.64, and 0.49, respectively). In cases of allergic rhinitis accompanied by inhalant allergen sensitization, changes in PM10, PM2.5, CO, NO2, maximum SO2 concentration, maximum CO concentration, and maximum NO2 concentration also showed positive correlations (correlation coefficients, 0.64, 0.60, 0.56, 0.49, 0.52, 0.71, and 0.60, respectively).Conclusions: In this study, several air pollutants were associated with allergic rhinitis symptoms in children residing in Busan, and a broader range of air pollutants was associated with allergic rhinitis accompanied by inhalant allergen sensitization.