Influence of agricultural and grey spaces proximity on allergic rhinitis, asthma and COPD: A population-based study

Background: A recent research has shown that residential land cover may affect health outcomes in children (Parmes, Envir Res 2019); the influence of residential land cover on respiratory and allergic health in adults, however, still needs to be clarified. Aim: To assess influence of residential land cover on allergic/respiratory outcomes in a general population sample. Methods: 2706 subjects (females: 55.4%; age range: 15-97) living in Pisa, Italy, were investigated in 1991-93 through a questionnaire on health status and risk factors. Land-cover exposures within a 1000 m buffer from each subjects' home address were computed using data from the CORINE program (CLC 1990). The associations of allergic rhinitis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with land coverage were estimated using logistic regression models, adjusted for sex, age, body mass index, education, smoking habits, occupational exposure and family history of allergic/respiratory diseases. Results: A 10% increase in agricultural space coverage was associated with lower risk of having allergic rhinitis (OR [95% CI]: 0.95 [0.91-0.99]), asthma (OR 0.95 [0.90-0.99]) and COPD (OR 0.93 [0.89-0.97]) symptoms/diagnoses; vice versa, a 10% increase in grey space coverage was associated with higher risk of having allergic rhinitis (OR 1.04 [1.01-1.09], asthma (OR 1.05 [1.00-1.10]) and COPD (OR 1.08 [1.03-1.12] symptoms/diagnoses.
Conclusions: Our results provide further evidence that living close to agricultural space may provide protective effects on allergic/respiratory health outcomes, while exposure to grey spaces may have adverse effects.