BACKGROUND: Previous epidemiological studies have shown acute effects of increased amounts of ambient air pollution on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in @entity1 with @entity1576 . We investigated whether @entity1 with @entity2488 ( @entity2488 ) and relatively high serum concentrations of total IgE (>60 kU/L, the median value) are susceptible to air pollution. METHODS: We collected data from @entity1 during three winters (1992-95) in rural and urban areas of the Netherlands. Lower respiratory symptoms (wheeze, attacks of wheezing, @entity1353 ), @entity1729 (sore throat, runny or blocked nose), and peak expiratory flow were recorded daily for 3 months. The acute effects of airborne particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 microm, black smoke, @entity12546 , and @entity7459 were estimated by logistic regression. FINDINGS: 459 (73%) of 632 @entity1 had complete data. Of these, 26% had @entity2488 and relatively high (above median) serum total IgE, 36% had no @entity2488 and total IgE of 60 kU/L or less, 15% had @entity2488 and total IgE of 60 kU/L or less, and 23% had a total IgE of more than 60 kU/L but no @entity2488 . In @entity1 with @entity2488 and relatively high serum total IgE the prevalence of lower respiratory symptoms increased significantly by between 32% and 139% for each 100 microm/m3 increase in particulate matter, and between 16% and 131% for each 40 microm/m3 increase in black smoke, @entity9734 , or @entity6836 . Decrease in peak expiratory flow of more than 10% in that group was more common with @entity62 . There were no consistent positive or negative associations between increased air pollution and prevalence of respiratory symptoms or decrease in peak expiratory flow in the other three groups of @entity1 . INTERPRETATION: @entity1 with @entity2488 and relatively high concentrations of serum total IgE are susceptible to air pollution. Although our odds ratios were rather low (range 1.16-2.39) the overall effect of air pollution on public health is likely to be substantial since these odds ratios refer to large numbers of @entity1 .

Effects of ambient air pollution on upper and lower respiratory symptoms and peak expiratory flow in XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'Children', 'people'] @entity7459 :: ('MESH:D009585', 'Chemical') :: ['nitrogen dioxide'] @entity1353 :: ('MESH:D004417', 'Disease') :: ['shortness of breath'] @entity2488 :: ('MESH:D001982', 'Disease') :: ['BHR', 'bronchial hyperresponsiveness'] @entity12546 :: ('CHEBI:18422', 'Chemical') :: ['sulphur dioxide'] @entity6836 :: ('CHEBI:29785', 'Chemical') :: ['NO2'] @entity1729 :: ('MESH:D012141', 'Disease') :: ['upper respiratory symptoms'] @entity1576 :: ('MESH:D012131', 'Disease') :: ['respiratory disorders'] @entity62 :: ('MESH:D056784', 'Disease') :: ['increased airborne particulate matter and black smoke'] @entity9734 :: ('CHEBI:29825', 'Chemical') :: ['SO2']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['children']
