Avoiding air pollution is difficult, especially for city dwellers
Ron Adar/Alay
the air pollution is increasingly being linked to an increased risk of eczema as recent research shows a clear link between exposure and skin conditions.
Vehicles and power plants emit polluting particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, called PM2.5. These have previously been linked to an increased risk of eczemawhich is thought to be the result of an overactive immune system causing the inflammation it causes the skin dry and itchy
To gather more evidence, Jeffrey Cohen At the Yale School of Medicine and his colleagues analyzed the medical records of more than 280,000 people, mostly in their 50s, who participated. All of us Research Program. This covers it the health Data from a diverse group of people in the US, focusing on those who are typically underrepresented in research, such as ethnic minorities.
The researchers also looked at the average PM2.5 level where these people lived, using data collected in 2015. Center for Air, Climate and Energy Solutions in Virginia
They then compared PM2.5 levels in 788 locations in the US to cases of eczema diagnosed through mid-2022. They found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase in PM2.5, eczema rates doubled. “In more polluted areas of the country, there was more eczema,” says Cohen.
The team took into account factors that could affect the results, such as ethnicity and whether people smoked or had food allergies.
“The study advances science by beautifully showing a clear correlation in a large population,” he says Giuseppe Valacchi at North Carolina State University. PM2.5 can affect the immune system when it comes into contact with the skin, like pollen or dust mites, says Valacchi. Breathing can also play a role, as this can increase inflammation in the body, he says.
This research should give governments another reason to enforce policies that reduce air pollution, Cohen says. Meanwhile, people living in polluted areas can reduce their risk by wearing long sleeves or staying indoors when pollution levels are particularly high, Valacchi says.
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