Rajesh Melaram- College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United States
Children around the world are continuing to develop and suffer from chronic lung diseases such as asthma. Childhood asthma commonly presents with recurrent episodes of cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing, all of which can lead to missed school days and hospitalization admissions. The role of environmental pollutants and aeroallergens has been increasingly recognized in relation to asthma etiology. We showcase the impacts of air pollution and pollen exposures in early life on childhood asthma and allergies through an epidemiologic perspective. We also examine the effects of indoor microbial exposures such as endotoxin and glucan on allergic diseases in schoolchildren as many spend most of their time in a household or classroom setting. Findings of this work can assist in the identification of key environmental factors in critical life periods and improve clinicians’ diagnoses of asthma during early childhood.
Introduction
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors (1–3). Globally, asthma is the 28th leading cause of disease burden and 16th leading cause of years lived with disability, based on disability-adjusted life years. In the next year, the prevalence of asthma is expected to reach 400 million worldwide (4). Children represent a large fraction of asthma incidence and prevalence (5). Asthma development begins during early childhood and can progress throughout life, with some adults experiencing a first-time occurrence (4). Because of their underdeveloped organs and weakened immune systems, children are more susceptible to asthma symptoms (i.e., shortness of breath, cough, wheezing) and hospitalization admissions compared to their adult counterparts (6). However, asthma morbidity and mortality remain higher in adults (4) who have an increased risk of fixed airflow obstruction (7), alongside a greater potential for rapid lung function decline (4, 7, 8). Despite these differences, children often possess several risk factors for poor health outcomes and thus depend on others daily to meet their basic needs (9, 10).
Various environmental exposures are established risk factors for asthma including air pollution, tobacco smoke, and farm animals (11). The degree and timing of environmental exposures in early life (i.e., pregnancy and infancy) is crucial and may either serve as risk factors or protective factors for asthma. Maternal risk factors during pregnancy including antibiotic exposure, atopic disease, smoking, and stress have been associated with asthma (12, 13). Postnatal factors such as respiratory viral infections and indoor microbial exposures have shown to potentially safeguard against the development of asthma (12, 14). Climate change on the other hand is indirectly correlated with the increasing incidence of allergic diseases with recent focus on the role of air pollution and pollen exposures in asthma development and exacerbation (15). Studies provide compelling evidence that air pollution and pollen exposures result in asthma exacerbations and related allergy symptoms, as well as hospitalizations and emergency department presentations, respectively (16–20). The impact of prenatal and postnatal exposures to air pollution and pollen on childhood asthma and allergic disease risk is paramount and still uncertain in epidemiology.
As such, the primary objective of this perspective is to reveal the latest epidemiological evidence on early life exposures to air pollution and pollen exposures and their associations with childhood allergic diseases. In a secondary objective, we examine the role of microbial exposures on the risk of asthma and allergic conditions in schoolchildren. Enhanced knowledge of environmental exposures in early life can improve asthma prevention efforts, thereby improving the health of the pediatric population.
Air pollution
Particulate matter
Particulate matter (PM) consists of microscopic solid and liquid particles whose diameters are less than 10 (PM10) or 2.5 (PM2.5) micrometers. The impact of early life exposures of PM on childhood allergic diseases are well-studied (21–27) (Table 1). In a sex-stratified analysis, maternal daily exposure to elevated PM2.5 levels at midgestation (16–25 weeks) was found to associate with an increased risk of asthma development in urban boys by age 6 (21). Furthermore, a population-based study of four European birth cohorts reported an increased risk of asthma incidence after age 4 from early life exposure to PM2.5 (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.29, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] (1.00–1.66). The authors also examined the effect of PM2.5 on allergic rhinoconjunctivitis but did not identify a positive association (22). A Danish study on COPSAC10 birth cohort observed significant associations between postnatal PM2.5 [OR 1.51, 95% CI (1.08–2.07)] and PM10 [OR 1.56, 95% CI (1.14–2.09)] in relation to childhood asthma at age 6, supporting the impact of PM exposures during early life.
Table 1. Epidemiological studies on air pollution exposures in early life and childhood allergic diseases.
In terms of childhood allergic diseases, there are fewer studies addressing the effect of prenatal PM exposures, particularly on asthma. In the United States, a multicity sample of two pregnancy cohorts demonstrated the saccular phase (24–36 weeks gestation) to be a critical window for PM2.5 exposure and subsequent development of asthma at age 4 (27). A mediation analysis on prenatal PM10 exposure and asthma incidence showed that airway hyperresponsiveness at age 1 potentially mediates the association between exposure to PM10 during the second trimester and asthma incidence at age 7 in schoolchildren (23). For early life exposure, outdoor PM10 was found to associate with lifetime eczema [OR 1.17, 95% CI (1.06–1.28)], but not asthma, wheeze, or rhinitis among preschool children (26). A different study observed an increased risk of childhood asthma from early life exposure to PM10 [OR 1.11, 95% CI (1.02–1.20)]. Compared to asthma, more attention has shifted towards allergic rhinitis as of late given its increased prevalence alongside the compounding effects of climate change and ambient particle pollution in Westernized countries.
Nitrogen dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a gaseous oxide commonly produced by combustion processes, fossil fuel emissions, industrial activities, and transportation (35). Indoor sources of NO2 include building heat, natural gas stoves, and tobacco smoke (36, 37). Because children spend ∼70% of their time inside, they may be exposed to higher levels of indoor NO2 than outdoor NO2 (38). Epidemiological studies have identified associations between outdoor NO2 exposure and risk of childhood asthma and wheezing (39, 40). The effect of prenatal and postnatal NO2 exposures on childhood asthma remains less investigated, with few studies highlighting an increased risk of asthma in preschool-aged children (28, 29). More recently, a prospective cohort study explored the relationship of indoor and outdoor NO2 in mixed rural-urban settings with childhood asthma; however, no significant association was detected (30). The feasibility study used a small sample (n = 947), which may have contributed to a lack of an association.
Moreover, a study in Canada explored the role of NO2 exposure in the first year of life and risk of allergic diseases including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema. Early life exposures to NO2 were associated with an increased risk of incident asthma [OR 1.06, 95% CI (0.96–1.16)] and eczema [OR 1.05, 95% CI (0.99–1.11)] in comparison to allergic rhinitis [OR 0.94, 95% CI (0.87–1.02)] (34). In China, a group of researchers analyzed the association between prenatal and postnatal NO2 exposures and childhood allergic rhinitis prevalence. No significant association was observed for prenatal NO2, while an increased odds of allergic rhinitis resulted from postnatal exposure in the first year of life [OR 1.013, 95% CI (1.002–1.025)] (41). Considering these findings, the association between early life exposure to NO2 and childhood allergic diseases are inconsistent and necessitate longitudinal cohort studies.
Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a noxious gas primarily generated from fossil fuel combustion or industrial processes. Epidemiological studies revealed an increased risk of asthma exacerbations in children exposed to high levels of SO2 in the short term (42–44). Continued interest in this arena may be due to the toxic effects of SO2 in sensitive asthmatics, although the exact mechanisms are not completely understood (45). However, researchers report inconsistent findings on early life SO2 exposures and risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis. For example, residential exposure to industrial SO2 emissions in Quebec, Canada was shown to contribute to childhood asthma development mostly before 4 years of age (31). In an earlier study, children exposed to high levels of SO2 in pregnancy and in infancy had an elevated risk of asthma onset [OR 1.03, 95% CI (1.02–1.05) for both periods] (28). No significant relationship was observed between prenatal SO2 exposure and risk of childhood asthma and allergic rhinitis in China (29). A follow-up study among Korean schoolchildren discovered a high risk of allergic rhinitis associated with high atmospheric SO2 concentrations [OR 1.056, 95% CI (1.006–1.109)] (46). With continued investigations on SO2 exposures and childhood allergic diseases associations may become clearer.
Ozone
Ozone (O3) is a reactive gas existing in both the stratosphere and troposphere of Earth's atmosphere. Stratospheric O3 prevents harmful health effects by absorbing ultraviolet rays from the sun. Inhalation of tropospheric O3 at high concentrations can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in children (47). There is increasing evidence supporting the relationship of O3 exposure with asthma exacerbations or development in childhood. A case-cross over study found that O3 exposure >80 µg/m3 increased the risk for asthma attacks on each day of lag, with a significant effect observed for levels >100 µg/m3 (32). Conversely, findings from an administrative cohort study in Québec, Canada indicated an increased risk of asthma development with respect to residential exposure to O3 at birth [Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.11 95% CI (1.10–1.12)] (33). Associations have similarly been reported for O3 exposure at birth and childhood allergic rhinitis [HR 1.15, 95% CI (1.00–1.31)] and eczema [HR 1.05, 95% CI (0.95–1.16)] (34).
Pollen
With global climate change extending the pollen season and distribution of airborne pollen, the adverse effects of early life pollen exposures on young children are becoming more pronounced. Several factors contribute to variable pollen levels in the atmosphere including vegetation source (i.e., trees, grasses, and weeds), seasonality, and weather conditions (48). Seasonal pollen exposure stimulates IgE-mediated inflammatory responses, resulting in itchy eyes, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and persistent sneezing (49, 50). Many epidemiological studies have thus investigated associations between pollen season of birth and childhood allergic diseases (51–53). Given the increasing trends in global climatic patterns some studies are seeking to understand the impact of pollen exposures on asthma and allergic disease outcomes (Table 2). For instance, one study reported an increased risk of sensitization to atopic disease from high pollen exposure during pregnancy and in infancy, with the latter showing a greater tendency towards sensitization (55). An earlier cross-sectional study by the same authors revealed an increased odds of sensitization [OR 2.4, 95% CI (1.2–4.6)] and allergic asthma [OR 2.6, 95% CI (1.2–5.6)] from high pollen exposure in infancy.
Table 2. Epidemiological studies on pollen exposures in early life and childhood allergic diseases.
Another study noted an increased risk of asthma hospitalization from pollen exposure during late pregnancy and in the first year of life (20). Interestingly, the same study showed that high pollen levels in early pregnancy had a protective effect on asthma hospitalization by age 1. Limitations within the study included a lack of allergic disease phenotypes and potential misclassification of pollen exposures (20).
Microbial allergens
Bacterial endotoxin
Bacterial endotoxins are lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules found in Gram-negative bacteria. Multiple studies from the early 2000 s assessed the relationship between household endotoxin exposures and allergic diseases among schoolchildren (57–61). Various associations on endotoxin exposure occurred from these studies including an increased or a decreased risk of asthma or allergies to no association with asthma. In a longitudinal study of children with a parental history of atopy, high endotoxin exposure at ages 2–3 months associated with a decreased odds of atopy [OR 0.6, 95% CI (0.3–1.4)] and rhinitis [OR 0.3, 95% CI (0.1–0.9)] in schoolchildren, but an increased risk of wheeze from ages 1 to 7 years [HR 1.23, 95% CI (1.07–1.43)]. No significant association occurred between endotoxin exposure and asthma at 7 years (62). A case-control study in Canada suggested an increased risk of asthma or wheeze at age 12 in children whose parents reported a history of allergic disease to endotoxin exposure, but not for non-allergic children (63). These findings demonstrate that parental history of atopic disease could play a part in the protective effect of high postnatal endotoxin exposure and development of allergic diseases at earlier ages, and thus be treated as a potential confounder in epidemiological analyses.
Glucan
Fungi are heterotrophic microorganisms composed of chitinous cell walls and release spores for dispersal and colonization. Few exposure assessments on fungal species or glucan in house dust have been conducted (64–66). High glucan exposure has been associated with a decreased risk of atopic eczema by school age [OR 0.73, 95% CI (0.51–1.05)] (67). Similarly, a decreased risk of allergic sensitization in children ages 2–4 years resulted from glucan exposure [OR 0.67, 95% CI (0.56–0.81)] (68). In Puerto Rico, an increased odds of atopy in control subjects [OR 2.46, 95% CI (0.37–4.55)] and emergency department/urgent care visits for asthma [OR 8.76, 95% CI (2.70–28.4)] was reported in schoolchildren exposed to high glucan levels (69). The study was cross-sectional in design, meaning it only captured the link between glucan exposure and risk of atopy and emergency department visits at a single time point. Collectively, epidemiological studies on glucan exposure are scarce, suggesting mixed findings on the risk of atopic and allergic phenotypes. Longitudinal cohort studies are therefore needed to assess the temporal sequence of indoor fungal exposures and allergic diseases in schoolchildren.
Conclusion
This perspective sheds light on air pollution and pollen exposures as key environmental determinants in early life with respect to childhood allergic diseases. Findings on prenatal and postnatal air pollution and pollen exposures were analyzed and presented to indicate the potential risk of developing asthma and allergy in early childhood. As climate change continues to influence environmental changes, the interactive effects of air pollution and pollen exposures on allergic diseases may receive increasing attention. We even evaluated the role of indoor microbial exposures in connection with allergic diseases in schoolchildren. Despite conflicting findings on postnatal endotoxin and glucan exposures, future studies should explore maternal exposure to indoor pollutants and aeroallergens as well as potential mediators (i.e., viral infection and DNA methylation) with childhood allergic diseases.
Data availability statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
Author contributions
RM: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Conflict of interest
The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Keywords: early life, air pollution, pollen, asthma, allergies
Citation: Melaram R (2024) Early life exposures of childhood asthma and allergies—an epidemiologic perspective. Front. Allergy 5:1445207. doi: 10.3389/falgy.2024.1445207
Received: 6 June 2024; Accepted: 2 August 2024;
Published: 23 August 2024.
Edited by:
João Cavaleiro Rufo, University Porto, PortugalReviewed by:
Inês Paciência, University of Oulu, FinlandCopyright: © 2024 Melaram. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Rajesh Melaram, rajesh.melaram@tamucc.edu