New Study Connects Air Pollution With Increased Eczema Risk

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Eczema Arm Allergy Skin Concept — A Yale study connects increased air pollution to higher eczema rates in the U.S., highlighting the potential health risks associated with environmental pollution.

Research from Yale School of Medicine indicates a strong link between air pollution levels and eczema prevalence in the U.S.

The study found that residents in high PM_2.5 areas are twice as likely to develop eczema, suggesting significant health implications of air pollution on skin conditions.

A new study published today, November 13, 2024, in the journal PLOS ONE has found that people living in areas with higher air pollution are more likely to have eczema. Led by Dr. Jeffrey Cohen of Yale School of Medicine, the study explores the potential environmental impact of industrialization on skin health.

Eczema rates have been rising globally alongside industrial growth, hinting at a possible link to environmental factors. Using data from the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program, which includes information from hundreds of thousands of U.S. adults, the study focused on 286,862 people with available demographic details, zip code, and health records.

Factory Smoke Pollution — PM_2.5 refers to tiny particles in the air that measure less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter—about 30 times smaller than a human hair. These particles, often from sources like vehicle emissions, industrial processes, and wildfires, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, posing risks to respiratory and cardiovascular health.

The analysis showed that 12,695 participants (4.4%) had been diagnosed with eczema. After accounting for demographics and smoking status, researchers found that people with eczema were more likely to live in areas with high levels of PM_2.5, a type of fine particulate matter in the air. Notably, for every 10 µm/m³ increase in PM_2.5 pollution, the likelihood of having eczema more than doubled.

Overall, 12,695 participants (4.4%) were diagnosed with eczema. After controlling for demographics and smoking status, people with eczema were more likely to live in zip codes with high levels of fine particulate matter, or PM_2.5, in the air. For every increase of 10 µm/m³ in average PM_2.5 air pollution in their zip code, people were more than twice as likely to have eczema.

The authors conclude that increased air pollution, as measured by PM_2.5, may influence the risk of developing eczema, likely through its effects on the immune system.

The authors add: “Showing that individuals in the United States who are exposed to particulate matter are more likely to have eczema deepens our understanding of the important health implications of ambient air pollution.”

Reference: “Association between fine particulate matter and eczema: A cross-sectional study of the All of Us Research Program and the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions” by Chen GF, Hwang E, Leonard CE, Cohen JM, 13 November 2024, PLOS ONE.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310498

Funding: This study was partly funded by the National Institute on Aging (Grant No. 2 R01 AG060975) awarded to CEL. The funder also provided support in the form of salary for author CEL but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.