Exposure to indoor air pollution and the risk of upper and lower respiratory disease in asthmatic children and their mothers

Clinical evidence from previous epidemiological studies suggests that there is a link between indoor air pollution and the respiratory illness, the following study aimed to test this hypothesis in asthmatic children and their mothers. 84 asthmatic children and their mothers (12 were asthmatic) were followed up for a period of one year. In children, this study demonstrated the following findings: Positive association between NO2 (personal & kitchen mean) and the frequency of LRT episodes, but the episodes were milder in those with high kitchen NO2. Positive association between formaldehyde and the frequency of PEF episodes. Exposure to CO, PM10 increased the severity of LRT, PEF episodes. There was a positive association between the severity of URT episodes and kitchen peak NO2. Exposure to PM10 increased the incidence of LRT and PEF episodes following the occurrence of upper respiratory tract episodes. Among mothers, this study demonstrated the following findings: A positive association between dampness and PEF episodes. In the analysis of the severity of the episodes, exposure to PM10 and VOCs increased the severity of URT episodes. A positive association was demonstrated with PM10 and cotinine. Mothers with high kitchen peak NO2 have reported less URT symptoms, and those with high urine cotinine the episodes were milder and less frequent. It also seems there were milder LRT symptoms among mothers with high NO2 levels, and the episodes were shorter in relation to formaldehyde. PEF episodes were milder among mothers with high indoor exposure to NO2 (kitchen) and formaldehyde. Our study suggests that some of the indoor environmental factors have detrimental health effects on asthmatic children and their mothers.