TY - JOUR
T1 - Exposure to airborne polychlorinated biphenyls during childhood and risk of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic eczema, and respiratory infections: a register-based cohort study
AU - Dornfeldt, Mette Møller
AU - Deen, Laura
AU - Hougaard, Karin Sørig
AU - Hull, Sidsel Dan
AU - Petersen, Kajsa Ugelvig
AU - Meyer, Harald William
AU - Wils, Regitze Sølling
AU - Frederiksen, Marie
AU - Bonde, Jens Peter
AU - Tøttenborg, Sandra Søgaard
PY - 2026/5
Y1 - 2026/5
N2 - Background
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals commonly used in building materials before their ban decades ago. PCBs are immunotoxic and childhood exposure may impair the developing immune system. We examined the risk of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic eczema, and respiratory infections among children exposed to lower-chlorinated PCBs in indoor air.
Methods
The study included 13 633 children residing in one of two partly PCB contaminated residential areas in Greater Copenhagen, Denmark at least one day before their 15th birthday during the period 1970–2018. Exposure was quantified using indoor air measurements combined with register-based relocation dates (ng/m3 PCBtotal × years at the address). Register-based hospital discharges and medication claims defined the outcomes. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Cox regression with time-varying cumulated exposure lagged six months, adjusted for child sex, ancestry, and calendar year.
Results
We identified 890 (7%) asthma cases, 1379 (10%) allergic rhinoconjunctivitis cases, 46 (<1%) atopic eczema cases, and 2058 (16%) respiratory infections cases. We observed no association between PCB and any of the outcomes: adjusted HR per interquartile range increase in PCByear for asthma: 1.00 (95% CI: 0.99-1.01); allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: 1.00 (95% CI: 1.00-1.00); atopic eczema: 1.02 (95% CI: 1.00-1.04); respiratory infections: 1.00 (95% CI: 0.99-1.00).
Conclusion
We found no evidence in support of changes to risk of developing asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic eczema, and respiratory infections among children exposed to PCBs in indoor air.
AB - Background
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals commonly used in building materials before their ban decades ago. PCBs are immunotoxic and childhood exposure may impair the developing immune system. We examined the risk of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic eczema, and respiratory infections among children exposed to lower-chlorinated PCBs in indoor air.
Methods
The study included 13 633 children residing in one of two partly PCB contaminated residential areas in Greater Copenhagen, Denmark at least one day before their 15th birthday during the period 1970–2018. Exposure was quantified using indoor air measurements combined with register-based relocation dates (ng/m3 PCBtotal × years at the address). Register-based hospital discharges and medication claims defined the outcomes. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Cox regression with time-varying cumulated exposure lagged six months, adjusted for child sex, ancestry, and calendar year.
Results
We identified 890 (7%) asthma cases, 1379 (10%) allergic rhinoconjunctivitis cases, 46 (<1%) atopic eczema cases, and 2058 (16%) respiratory infections cases. We observed no association between PCB and any of the outcomes: adjusted HR per interquartile range increase in PCByear for asthma: 1.00 (95% CI: 0.99-1.01); allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: 1.00 (95% CI: 1.00-1.00); atopic eczema: 1.02 (95% CI: 1.00-1.04); respiratory infections: 1.00 (95% CI: 0.99-1.00).
Conclusion
We found no evidence in support of changes to risk of developing asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic eczema, and respiratory infections among children exposed to PCBs in indoor air.
KW - Allergi
KW - Astma
KW - Infektion
KW - Børn
KW - Luftvejslidelser
KW - Asthma
KW - Infections
KW - Allergy
KW - Lower-chlorinated PCBs
KW - Environmental pollutants
KW - Volatile PCBs
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijheh.2026.114820
DO - 10.1016/j.ijheh.2026.114820
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1438-4639
VL - 275
JO - International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
JF - International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
M1 - 114820
ER -