TY - JOUR
T1 - Urban grey spaces are associated with increased allergy in the general population
AU - Maio, S.
AU - Baldacci, S.
AU - Tagliaferro, S.
AU - Angino, A.
AU - Parmes, E.
AU - Pärkkä, J.
AU - Pesce, G.
AU - Maesano, C. N.
AU - Annesi-Maesano, I.
AU - Viegi, G.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported in part by the CNR -ENEL (Italian Electric Power Authority) ‘Interaction of Energy Systems with Human Health and Environment’ Project (1989) and by the Italian National Research Council Targeted Project ‘Prevention and Control Disease Factors-SP 2’ (Contract No. 91.00171.PF41 ; 1991). Information about CORINE Land Cover data were obtained within the HEALS project (2013–2018) which has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for Research , technological development and demonstration [grant number FP7-ENV-2013-603946 ].
Funding Information:
This work was supported in part by the CNR-ENEL (Italian Electric Power Authority) ?Interaction of Energy Systems with Human Health and Environment? Project (1989) and by the Italian National Research Council Targeted Project ?Prevention and Control Disease Factors-SP 2? (Contract No. 91.00171.PF41; 1991). Information about CORINE Land Cover data were obtained within the HEALS project (2013?2018) which has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for Research, technological development and demonstration [grant number FP7-ENV-2013-603946].We thank Dr. Elisabetta Pisano of the Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC) of the CNR, Pisa, Italy, for her fundamental contribution in the preparation of the graphical abstract of this manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/11/24
Y1 - 2021/11/24
N2 - Background: the built environment in urban areas may have side effects on children's respiratory health, whilst less is known for adulthood. Aim: to assess the association between increasing exposure to grey spaces and allergic status in an adult general population sample. Methods: 2070 subjects (age range 15–84 yrs), living in Pisa/Cascina, Italy, were investigated in 1991–93 through a questionnaire on health status and risk factors, skin prick test (SPT), serum Immunoglobulins E (IgE), and serum antibodies to benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts. Land-cover exposure within a 1000 m buffer from each subject's home address was assessed through the CORINE Land Cover program (CLC 1990) within the FP7/HEALS project (2013–2018). Participants' residential addresses were geocoded and the proportion of surrounding grey spaces was calculated. Through logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounding factors, the effect of a 10% increase in grey spaces exposure on allergic biomarkers/conditions was assessed; the relationship with serum antibodies to BPDE-DNA adducts positivity was also analyzed. Results: A 10% increase in grey spaces coverage was associated with a higher probability of having SPT positivity (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13), seasonal SPT positivity (OR 1.12, 1.05-1.19), polysensitization (OR 1.11, 1.04-1.19), allergic rhinitis (OR 1.10, 1.04-1.17), co-presence of SPT positivity and asthma/allergic rhinitis (OR 1.16, 1.08-1.25), asthma/allergic rhinitis (OR 1.06, 1.00-1.12), presence of serum antibodies to BPDE-DNA adducts positivity (OR 1.07, 1.01-1.14). Conclusions: grey spaces have adverse effects on allergic status and are related to a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure in adulthood. Thus, they may be used as a proxy of urban environmental exposure.
AB - Background: the built environment in urban areas may have side effects on children's respiratory health, whilst less is known for adulthood. Aim: to assess the association between increasing exposure to grey spaces and allergic status in an adult general population sample. Methods: 2070 subjects (age range 15–84 yrs), living in Pisa/Cascina, Italy, were investigated in 1991–93 through a questionnaire on health status and risk factors, skin prick test (SPT), serum Immunoglobulins E (IgE), and serum antibodies to benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts. Land-cover exposure within a 1000 m buffer from each subject's home address was assessed through the CORINE Land Cover program (CLC 1990) within the FP7/HEALS project (2013–2018). Participants' residential addresses were geocoded and the proportion of surrounding grey spaces was calculated. Through logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounding factors, the effect of a 10% increase in grey spaces exposure on allergic biomarkers/conditions was assessed; the relationship with serum antibodies to BPDE-DNA adducts positivity was also analyzed. Results: A 10% increase in grey spaces coverage was associated with a higher probability of having SPT positivity (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13), seasonal SPT positivity (OR 1.12, 1.05-1.19), polysensitization (OR 1.11, 1.04-1.19), allergic rhinitis (OR 1.10, 1.04-1.17), co-presence of SPT positivity and asthma/allergic rhinitis (OR 1.16, 1.08-1.25), asthma/allergic rhinitis (OR 1.06, 1.00-1.12), presence of serum antibodies to BPDE-DNA adducts positivity (OR 1.07, 1.01-1.14). Conclusions: grey spaces have adverse effects on allergic status and are related to a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure in adulthood. Thus, they may be used as a proxy of urban environmental exposure.
KW - Adulthood
KW - Allergic symptoms/diseases
KW - Biomarkers
KW - Built environment
KW - CORINE land Cover
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85120164740&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112428
DO - 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112428
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85120164740
JO - Environmental Research
JF - Environmental Research
SN - 0013-9351
M1 - 112428
ER -