Air Pollution Linked to Higher Atopic Dermatitis Prevalence in Children
Key Takeaways
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 52 observational studies linked higher ambient air pollution exposure to increased atopic dermatitis (AD) prevalence and outpatient visits among children.
Higher particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentrations were associated with greater AD prevalence, while nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were associated with increased outpatient visits.
Evidence linking air pollution to new-onset AD or disease severity was mixed or did not support an association.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics found that exposure to certain ambient air pollutants was associated with higher atopic dermatitis (AD) prevalence and increased outpatient visits among children, although evidence linking pollution to disease incidence or severity remained inconclusive.
Particulate Matter and Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis Outcomes
Researchers searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases, identifying 2,528 citations. The analysis included 52 observational studies examining associations between air pollution exposure and pediatric AD outcomes. Eligible studies included children younger than 18 years and evaluated exposure to pollutants including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, carbon monoxide, and traffic-related pollution.
Each 10-µg/m³ increase in PM2.5 was associated with higher AD prevalence (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.08), as was each 10-µg/m³ increase in PM10 (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.35). Higher concentrations of gaseous pollutants were associated with greater outpatient utilization. For each 10-µg/m³ increase, NO2 was associated with increased AD outpatient visits (OR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.06 to 11.31), as was SO2 (OR, 3.96; 95% CI, 1.00 to 15.65). Both findings carried moderate certainty, although confidence intervals were wide.
"This systematic review and meta-analysis found that increased levels of certain ambient air pollutants were probably associated with some increased population burden of atopic dermatitis in children," the authors concluded.
Source
Park M, Mohsen ST, Price E. JAMA Pediatr. 2026. Doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2026.5020