Allergens and Asthma
The allergic response to particles in the atmosphere can greatly affect our children’s well-being especially if they develop asthma. There are lots of things that can contribute to young people getting this condition, such as dust mites. Scientists from the Columbia Centre for Children’s Environmental Health have discovered a link between wellness, air pollution, genetic factors and cockroaches.
What did they look for?
The researchers visited the homes of 349 pregnant women in New York to measure allergen levels before their babies were born. They focussed on gathering information about air quality and evidence of cockroaches. Blood tests were also carried out to find out if children had the GSTM1 gene mutation, which has been linked with development of the breathing condition.
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When the children were five and seven years old, the clinicians tested them for antibodies that indicate they have allergies. The results indicated that 31 per cent of the children had a cockroach allergy and this was higher in those whose mothers were exposed to poor air quality when they were pregnant. The children were even more likely to be allergic to cockroaches if they also carried the mutated gene. The researchers say that the gene may interfere with the safe break down of toxins in our bodies, which in turn leads to a larger immune response to cockroaches.
What does it mean?
Health experts have welcomed these results as cockroach allergy is a common trigger for development of full-blown asthma in children. Clinicians explain that our likelihood to develop asthma can be decided before we’re even born, due to poor air quality exposure in pregnancy. This gives health boards more information on how they can reduce our chances of getting asthma by boosting air quality and concentrating on effective environmental campaigns that rid homes of cockroaches.