Atopic diseases among adults in the two geographically related Arctic areas Nikel, Russia and Sør-Varanger, Norway: possible effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown lower prevalence of atopic diseases among adults and school-children in Eastern Europe. OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of atopic diseases among adults in two geographically related arctic areas, Nikel, Russia and Sør-Varanger, Norway. Nikel is a heavily polluted town on the Kola Peninsula. METHODS: The prevalence of eczema, asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (AR) was assessed using two identical questionnaire studies. The study in Sør-Varanger was conducted in the autumn of 1991 and comprised 1102 adults. In the spring of 1994, 3368 adults in Nikel completed the 4-page questionnaire. Results The lifetime prevalence of atopic diseases was significantly higher in Sør-Varanger than in Nikel (25.2% vs. 11.2%; P