Dataset Information

Urban tree canopy and asthma, wheeze, rhinitis, and allergic sensitization to tree pollen in a New York City birth cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Urban landscape elements, particularly trees, have the potential to affect airflow, air quality, and production of aeroallergens. Several large-scale urban tree planting projects have sought to promote respiratory health, yet evidence linking tree cover to human health is limited.

Objectives

We sought to investigate the association of tree canopy cover with subsequent development of childhood asthma, wheeze, rhinitis, and allergic sensitization.

Methods

Birth cohort study data were linked to detailed geographic information systems data characterizing 2001 tree canopy coverage based on LiDAR (light detection and ranging) and multispectral imagery within 0.25 km of the prenatal address. A total of 549 Dominican or African-American children born in 1998-2006 had outcome data assessed by validated questionnaire or based on IgE antibody response to specific allergens, including a tree pollen mix.

Results

Tree canopy coverage did not significantly predict outcomes at 5 years of age, but was positively associated with asthma and allergic sensitization at 7 years. Adjusted risk ratios (RRs) per standard deviation of tree canopy coverage were 1.17 for asthma (95% CI: 1.02, 1.33), 1.20 for any specific allergic sensitization (95% CI: 1.05, 1.37), and 1.43 for tree pollen allergic sensitization (95% CI: 1.19, 1.72).

Conclusions

Results did not support the hypothesized protective association of urban tree canopy coverage with asthma or allergy-related outcomes. Tree canopy cover near the prenatal address was associated with higher prevalence of allergic sensitization to tree pollen. Information was not available on sensitization to specific tree species or individual pollen exposures, and results may not be generalizable to other populations or geographic areas.

SUBMITTER: Lovasi GS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3620770 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Urban tree canopy and asthma, wheeze, rhinitis, and allergic sensitization to tree pollen in a New York City birth cohort.

Lovasi Gina S GS O'Neil-Dunne Jarlath P M JP Lu Jacqueline W T JW Sheehan Daniel D Perzanowski Matthew S MS Macfaden Sean W SW King Kristen L KL Matte Thomas T Miller Rachel L RL Hoepner Lori A LA Perera Frederica P FP Rundle Andrew A

Environmental health perspectives 20130115 4

<h4>Background</h4>Urban landscape elements, particularly trees, have the potential to affect airflow, air quality, and production of aeroallergens. Several large-scale urban tree planting projects have sought to promote respiratory health, yet evidence linking tree cover to human health is limited.<h4>Objectives</h4>We sought to investigate the association of tree canopy cover with subsequent development of childhood asthma, wheeze, rhinitis, and allergic sensitization.<h4>Methods</h4>Birth coh ...[more]

PMID: 23322788

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Project description:BackgroundSpecific patterns of allergic sensitization as well as quantification of the in vitro IgE response in early life may provide relevant clinical insight into future rhinitis and asthma risk.ObjectiveTo define relationships among established sensitization to particular aeroallergens, quantitative analyses of allergen-specific IgE levels, pet exposure and sensitization, and asthma and rhinitis risk.MethodsChildren at high-risk for the development of asthma and allergic diseases were enrolled at birth into the Childhood Origins of ASThma (COAST) study. Allergen-specific IgE was assessed at ages 1, 3, 6, and 9 years by fluoroenzyme immunoassay (Unicap(®) 100; Pharmacia Diagnostics). Current asthma and rhinitis were diagnosed at age 6 and 8 years.ResultsSensitization to dog was strongly associated with increased asthma risk (P < 0.0001). Sensitization to perennial compared with seasonal allergens was more strongly associated with asthma risk, while sensitization to seasonal allergens was more closely associated with rhinitis risk. Increased levels of specific IgE to perennial allergens were associated with an increased asthma risk (P = 0.05), while any detectable level of IgE to seasonal allergens was associated with increased rhinitis risk (P = 0.0009). While dog and cat sensitization were both independently associated with increased asthma and rhinitis risk, dog exposure at birth was associated with a reduced risk of asthma, regardless of dog sensitization status during the first 6 years of life (P = 0.05).Conclusions and clinical relevanceAnalysing specific patterns of an individual's allergic sensitization profile reveals additional relevant associations with asthma and rhinitis risk as opposed to the information gained from characterizing an individual as 'atopic' by the presence of any demonstrable sensitization alone. Furthermore, protective mechanisms of dog exposure with regards to asthma risk appear to be unrelated to the prevention of sensitization.

Project description:BackgroundDiagnosis of pollen allergies is mainly based on test allergens for skin prick testing. In the minimum battery of test inhalant allergens recommended by the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network 10 pollen allergens are included. Complementary other pollen allergens may need to be considered; however, respective awareness may not always be granted. Furthermore, at least in Germany, the situation may be even more complicated by the fact that test allergens need regulatory approval. A decline in commercially available test allergens may result in a diagnostic gap regarding patients with non-frequent allergies. How many patients with non-frequent pollen allergies would be affected by this gap? The data presented here partly answer this question.MethodsThe study consisted of a descriptive and an analytical part. In the descriptive part, sensitization to frequent pollen allergens (alder, hazel, birch, sweet grasses; according to the German Therapy Allergen Ordinance) and to respective non-frequent pollen allergens (cypress, Japanese cedar, ash, plane tree, olive, Bermuda grass, wall pellitory, plantain, goosefoot, mugwort, ragweed, and saltwort) was measured in adult patients with physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis from two German federal states, namely North-Rhine Westphalia (n = 360) and Bavaria (n = 339), using skin prick testing and/or ISAC technology. Furthermore, respective regional pollen data were assessed. In the analytical part, sensitization data were correlated with each other and with anamnestic data on symptom periods.ResultsSensitization to frequent pollen allergens ranged from 45% (sIgE to Aln g 1/Alder, NRW) to 72% (prick test reactivity to birch, NRW). Sensitization to non-frequent pollen allergens ranged from 0% (sIgE to Amb a 1/ragweed, NRW) to 41% (prick test reactivity to olive, Bavaria). Sensitization data partly correlated with each other and in connection with symptom periods showed a partly similar seasonal pattern as pollen data.ConclusionsSensitization to non-frequent pollen allergens have to be considered when examining patients with respective seasonal symptoms, and test (and respective therapy) allergens for non-frequent pollen allergies need to be available. Further prerequisites for adequate patient management would be a nationwide pollen monitoring system giving continuous pollen data and a systematic sensitization monitoring at patient level.

Dataset Information

Urban tree canopy and asthma, wheeze, rhinitis, and allergic sensitization to tree pollen in a New York City birth cohort.

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Urban tree canopy and asthma, wheeze, rhinitis, and allergic sensitization to tree pollen in a New York City birth cohort.

Similar Datasets

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