In a recent study published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, researchers found a significant association between prenatal and early life exposure to indoor pollutants and allergy sensitivity in 2-year-olds.
Lead study author Mallory Gallant explained, “Because most children are exposed to more than one pollutant or allergen, we examined the relationship between multiple exposures and allergic sensitizations at 2 years of age.”
To conduct the study, researchers followed 108 mother-child pairs for two years, beginning when the child was born. “We examined exposure to dogs, cats, air fresheners, candles, mold, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and carpet, all of which have been associated with childhood allergies,” Gallant said. “Of the exposures we measured, prenatal exposure to candles, 6-month exposure to cats and 2-year exposure to ETS significantly increased the chance of a positive skin prick test (SPT) at 2 years of age.”
The results show that exposure to indoor air pollutants increases the risk of harmful health outcomes, such as allergies. Study author and allergist Anne K. Ellis, M.D., explained, “Children breathe more frequently per minute than adults, and mostly breathe through their mouths. These differences could allow for air pollutants to penetrate more deeply into the lungs and at higher concentrations, making children more vulnerable to air pollutants.”
According to the World Health Organization, 92% of the world population breathe polluted air, and about 7 million deaths are attributed to air pollution each year. Overall, a toxic environment is responsible for at least 1 of every 4 deaths reported worldwide, and air pollution is the greatest contributor to this risk.
Indoor air pollution can be as dangerous, or more, than outdoor air pollution. Indoor air is often more contaminated to begin with, and most people spend over 90% of their time indoors. The level of air pollution in your home can be two to five times higher than outside, and some of the pollutants you breathe can be as much as 100 times more concentrated indoors.
For tips on reducing your indoor air pollution, check out this article.