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Indoor Environmental Risk Factors for Respiratory Health in Children
Author(s) -
Garrett Maria H.,
Abramson Michael J.,
Hooper Beverley M.,
Rayment Philip R.,
Strasser Roger P.,
Hooper Martin A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0668.1998.00004.x
Subject(s) - stove , asthma , environmental health , medicine , atopy , risk factor , health risk , respiratory system , indoor air , indoor air quality , passive smoking , environmental science , environmental engineering , geography , archaeology
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/m 3 , 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.