Journal ArticleDOI
Asthma among secondary schoolchildren in relation to the school environment.
TLDR
This data indicates that among children and young persons in the western world, school is the most important indoor environment for children, and poor indoor air quality is related to the increase in the prevalence of asthma.Abstract:
Background Poor indoor air quality has been suggested to be related to the increase in the prevalence of asthma that has occurred in the western world, especially among children and young persons. Apart from the home, school is the most important indoor environment for children. Objectives The aims were to study the prevalence of current asthma among secondary pupils and its relationship to the school environment, but also to personal factors and domestic exposures. Methods Data on asthmatic symptoms, other health aspects, and domestic exposures were gathered using a questionnaire which was sent to 762 pupils in the seventh form (13-14 years old) in 11 randomly chosen schools in the county of Uppsala in Sweden. Pupils answering 'yes' to having had asthma diagnosed by a physician, and having had recent asthma attacks, or who used asthma medication were defined as having current asthma. Data on exposures at school were gathered by measurements in 28 classrooms. The relationship between asthma and exposures was analysed by multiple logistic regression. Results The questionnaire was completed by 627 (82%). Current asthma was found among 40 pupils (6.4%). Current asthma was more common in those who had an atopic disposition, or food allergy, or who had attended a day care centre for several years. Controlling for these factors, current asthma was related to several factors in the school environment. There were more pupils with current asthma in schools that were larger, had more open shelves, lower room temperature, higher relative air humidity, higher concentrations of formaldehyde or other volatile organic compounds, viable moulds or bacteria or more cat allergen in the settled dust. Conclusions Although the pupils attended school for a minor part of their time, our study indicates that the quality of the school environment is of importance and may affect asthmatic symptoms.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Formaldehyde in the Indoor Environment
TL;DR: Adverse health effects from exposure to formaldehyde in prefabricated houses, especially irritation of the eyes and upper airways, were first reported in the mid-1960s and a guideline value of 0.1 ppm was proposed in 1977 by the former German Federal Agency of Health to limit human exposure in dwellings.
Journal ArticleDOI
Do indoor pollutants and thermal conditions in schools influence student performance? A critical review of the literature
Mark J. Mendell,Garvin Heath +1 more
TL;DR: Overall, evidence suggests that poor IEQ in schools is common and adversely influences the performance and attendance of students, primarily through health effects from indoor pollutants.
Journal ArticleDOI
Epidemiologic evidence for asthma and exposure to air toxics: linkages between occupational, indoor, and community air pollution research.
TL;DR: Outdoor ambient air pollutant exposures in communities are relevant to the acute exacerbation and possibly the onset of asthma, but the complexity of pollutant mixtures and etiologic heterogeneity of asthma has made it difficult to identify causal components in those mixtures.
Journal ArticleDOI
Public health and economic impact of dampness and mold.
David Mudarri,William J. Fisk +1 more
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that dampness and mold in buildings is a significant public health problem with substantial economic impact and there is a need to control moisture in both new and existing construction because of the significant health consequences that can result from damps and mold.
Journal ArticleDOI
Formaldehyde exposure and asthma in children: a systematic review.
TL;DR: A significant positive association between formaldehyde exposure and childhood asthma is indicated, and further well-designed prospective epidemiologic studies are needed.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
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TL;DR: Applied Logistic Regression, Third Edition provides an easily accessible introduction to the logistic regression model and highlights the power of this model by examining the relationship between a dichotomous outcome and a set of covariables.
Journal ArticleDOI
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TL;DR: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) was planned to answer specific questions about the distribution of asthma and health care given for asthma in the European Community.
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Exposure to house-dust mite allergen (Der p I) and the development of asthma in childhood: a prospective study.
TL;DR: In addition to genetic factors, exposure in early childhood to house-dust mite allergens is an important determinant of the subsequent development of asthma.
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The relative risks of sensitivity to grass pollen, house dust mite and cat dander in the development of childhood asthma
TL;DR: Allergen‐specific relative risk analysis demonstrated that sensitivity to house dust mite and to cat dander were highly significant independent risk factors associated with the development of asthma (whether defined as recurrent typical respiratory symptoms, increased airway responsiveness, or the concurrent presence of both).
Journal ArticleDOI
Asthmatic symptoms and volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, and carbon dioxide in dwellings.
TL;DR: Improved indoor environment can also be achieved by selecting building materials, building construction, and indoor activities on the principle that the emission of volatile organic compounds should be as low as reasonably achievable, to minimise symptoms related to asthma due to indoor air pollution.
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