Long-term exposure to indoor air pollution and wheezing symptoms in infants

Indoor Air. 2010 Apr;20(2):159-67. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2009.00635.x. Epub 2009 Oct 14.

Abstract

Long-term exposure to air pollution is suspected to cause recurrent wheeze in infants. The few previous studies have had ambiguous results. The objective of this study was to estimate the impact of measured long-term exposure to indoor air pollution on wheezing symptoms in infants. We monitored wheezing symptoms in diaries for a birth cohort of 411 infants. We measured long-term exposure to nitrogen oxides (NO(x)), NO(2), formaldehyde, PM(2.5) and black smoke in the infants' bedrooms and analyzed risk associations during the first 18 months of life by logistic regression with the dichotomous end-point 'any symptom-day' (yes/no) and by standard linear regression with the end-point 'number of symptom-days'. The results showed no systematic association between risk for wheezing symptoms and the levels of these air pollutants with various indoor and outdoor sources. In conclusion, we found no evidence of an association between long-term exposure to indoor air pollution and wheezing symptoms in infants, suggesting that indoor air pollution is not causally related to the underlying disease. Practical Implications Nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde and fine particles were measured in the air in infants' bedrooms. The results showed no evidence of an association between long-term exposure and wheezing symptoms in the COPSAC birth cohort.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollution, Indoor / adverse effects*
  • Denmark
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Inhalation Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Nitrogen Oxides / adverse effects
  • Nitrogen Oxides / analysis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Respiratory Sounds / etiology
  • Respiratory Sounds / physiopathology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Nitrogen Oxides