Indoor Environmental Risk Factors for Respiratory Health in Children

• Published in: Indoor air Vol. 8; no. 4; pp. 236 - 243
• Main Authors: Garrett, Maria H., Abramson, Michael J., Hooper, Beverley M., Rayment, Philip R., Strasser, Roger P., Hooper, Martin A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Munksgaard International Publishers 01.12.1998
• Subjects: Asthma; Formaldehyde; Fungal spores; House dust mites; Nitrogen dioxide; Respiratory symptoms
• ISSN: 0905-6947; 1600-0668
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.1998.00004.x

The indoor environment of 80 houses in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia was assessed during six visits performed bi‐monthly over a period of one year. Children between 7 and 14 years of age residing in the houses were included, resulting in 148 study children, 53 of whom were asthmatic. A respiratory health questionnaire was completed and skin prick tests performed. Significant risk factors for asthma were: exposure to a gas stove (OR=3.15, 95% CI 1.28‐7.72), and indoor pets (OR = 2.68, 95% CI 1.07‐6.70). Exposure to airborne Aspergillus spores (+10 CFU/m3, OR=1.51, 95% CI 1.05‐2.18) was a risk factor for atopy, while exposure to a gas stove (OR=2.32, 95% CI 1.04‐5.18) was a risk factor for respiratory symptoms. In conclusion, exposure to gas stoves, fungal spores and pets in the home were identified as statistically significant risk factors for respiratory health in children.