Plastic wall materials in the home and respiratory health in young children.
OBJECTIVE
The relation between the presence of plastic wall materials in the home and respiratory health in children was assessed.


METHODS
This population-based cross-sectional study involved 2568 Finnish children aged 1 to 7 years.


RESULTS
In logistic regression models, lower respiratory tract symptoms--persistent wheezing (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13, 10.36), cough (OR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.04, 5.63), and phlegm (OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.03, 7.41)--were strongly related to the presence of plastic wall materials, whereas upper respiratory symptoms were not. The risk of asthma (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 0.35, 6.71) and pneumonia (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 0.62, 5.29) was also increased in children exposed to such materials.


CONCLUSIONS
Emissions from plastic materials indoors may have adverse effects on the lower respiratory tracts of small children.
Jaakkola
J J
JJ
Nordic School of Public Health, Göteborg, Sweden. jouni.jaakkola@nhv.se
Verkasalo
P K
PK
Jaakkola
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016015:Logistic Models; D010969:Plastics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D010969:Plastics