BackgroundThe associations between short- and long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and allergic symptoms in middle-aged and elderly populations remain unclear, particularly in China, where most cities have severe air pollution.MethodsParticipants (n = 10,142; age = 40–75 years) were recruited from ten regions in China from 2018 to 2021 for the Predictive Value of Inflammatory Biomarkers and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (PIFCOPD) study. Short-term (lag0 and lag0–7 day) and long-term (1-, 3- and 5-year) PM2.5concentrations at residences were extracted from the air pollutant database known as Tracking Air Pollution (TAP) in China. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate associations for short- and long-term PM2.5exposure concentrations and long-term exposure models were additionally adjusted for short-term deviations.ResultsA 10 µg/m3increase in PM2.5on the day the allergic symptoms questionnaire was administered (lag0 day) was associated with higher odds of allergic nasal (1.09, 95% CI 1.05, 1.12) and eye symptoms (1.08, 95% CI 1.05, 1.11), worsening dyspnea caused by allergens (1.06, 95% CI 1.02, 1.10), and ≥ 2 allergic symptoms (1.07, 95% CI 1.03, 1.11), which was similar in the lag0–7 day concentrations. A 10 µg/m3increase in the 1-year average PM2.5concentration was associated with an increase of 23% for allergic nasal symptoms, 22% for eye symptoms, 20% for worsening dyspnea caused by allergens, and 21% for ≥ 2 allergic symptoms, similar to the 3- and 5-year average PM2.5concentrations. These associations between long-term PM2.5concentration and allergic symptoms were generally unchanged after adjustment for short-term deviations.ConclusionsShort- and long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5was associated with an increased risk of allergic nasal and eye symptoms, worsening dyspnea caused by allergens, and ≥ 2 allergic symptoms.Trial registrationClinical trial ID: NCT03532893 (29 Mar 2018).Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12931-023-02433-2.