PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - T. Nicolai
AU  - D. Carr
AU  - S.K. Weiland
AU  - H. Duhme
AU  - O. von Ehrenstein
AU  - C. Wagner
AU  - E. von Mutius
TI  - Urban traffic and pollutant exposure related to respiratory outcomes and atopy in a large sample of children
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.03.00041103a
DP  - 2003 Jun 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 956--963
VI  - 21
IP  - 6
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/21/6/956.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/21/6/956.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2003 Jun 01; 21
AB  - Conflicting results have been reported for the relationship between traffic exposure and inception of atopy. The effect of traffic on the prevalence of asthma and atopy at school age was investigated in a representative population.Random samples of schoolchildren (n=7,509, response rate 83.7%) were studied using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood phase­II protocol with skin­prick tests, measurements of specific immunoglobulin E and lung function. Traffic exposure was assessed via traffic counts and by an emission model which predicted soot, benzene and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).Traffic counts were associated with current asthma, wheeze and cough. In children with tobacco­smoke exposure, traffic volume was additionally associated with a positive skin­prick test. Cough was associated with soot, benzene and NO2, current asthma with soot and benzene, and current wheeze with benzene and NO2. No pollutant was associated with allergic sensitisation.High vehicle traffic was associated with asthma, cough and wheeze, and in children additionally exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, with allergic sensitisation. However, effects of socioeconomic factors associated with living close to busy roads cannot be ruled out.