Individuals residing in regions with elevated air pollution levels are at a greater risk of developing eczema, based on recent research findings.
Individuals residing in regions with elevated air pollution levels are at a greater risk of developing eczema, according to recent research published on November 13, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Dr. Jeffrey Cohen of the Yale School of Medicine, USA.
The rate of eczema has risen worldwide alongside industrialization, indicating that environmental factors may play a role. In this new research, scientists analyzed data from the U.S. National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program, which includes information from hundreds of thousands of American adults. The study specifically evaluated 286,862 individuals who had available demographic information, zip codes, and electronic health records.
In total, 12,695 participants (4.4%) were identified as having eczema. After accounting for demographics and smoking habits, the results showed that individuals with eczema were more frequently found in areas with high concentrations of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5. For every increase of 10 µm/m3 in the average PM2.5 pollution level in their zip code, individuals were over twice as likely to be diagnosed with eczema.
The researchers indicate that heightened air pollution, specifically measured by PM2.5, might affect the likelihood of developing eczema, potentially through its impact on the immune system.
They also note, “Demonstrating that individuals in the United States exposed to particulate matter are more likely to have eczema enhances our understanding of the significant health implications associated with ambient air pollution.”
