Could Dirty Air Raise Kids' Odds for Peanut Allergy?

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Babies who breathe in polluted air tend to have higher rates of peanut allergy as they grow up, but the same wasn't true for immune-based conditions like egg allergy or eczema, Australian researchers report.

Why the connection to peanut allergy in particular?

That's not yet clear, said study lead author Dr. Diego Lopez, of the University of Melbourne.

“Air pollutants have an irritant and inflammatory effect that may boost the immune systems pro-allergic response, potentially triggering the development of food allergies,” said Lopez, a researcher at the university's School of Population and Global Health.