Early childhood traffic-related air pollution and risk of allergic rhinitis at 2-4 years of age modification by family stress and male gender: a case-control study in Shenyang, China

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND@#Few studies have explored the modifications by family stress and male gender in the relationship between early exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) and allergic rhinitis (AR) risk in preschool children.@*METHODS@#We conducted a case-control study of 388 children aged 2-4 years in Shenyang, China. These children AR were diagnosed by clinicians. By using measured concentrations from monitoring stations, we estimated the exposures of particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter (PM@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of AR in children aged 2-4 years (6.4%) was related to early TRAP exposure. With an IQR (20 μg/m@*CONCLUSIONS@#Family stress and male gender may increase the risk of AR in preschool children with early exposure to PM