Effects of volatile organic compounds, damp, and other environmental exposures in the home on wheezing illness in children.
BACKGROUND
The effects of indoor exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde, on respiratory health are not clearly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the independent effects of VOCs and other common environmental exposures in the home on the risk and severity of persistent wheezing illness in children.


METHODS
Total volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, damp (on a four category scale of % wood moisture equivalent), and environmental tobacco smoke (from salivary cotinine) were measured objectively in the homes of 193 children with persistent wheezing illness and 223 controls aged 9-11 years in Nottingham, UK.


RESULTS
The risk of wheezing illness was significantly increased only in relation to damp (odds ratio (OR) per increasing category=1.32 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00 to 1.75)), and was unrelated to the other exposures measured. Among cases, formaldehyde and damp were associated with more frequent nocturnal symptoms (OR per increasing quartile and category, respectively, 1.45 (1.06 to 1.98) and 1.97 (1.10 to 3.53)), significantly more so in atopic cases, but there was no effect of total volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide, or cotinine.


CONCLUSIONS
Domestic volatile organic compounds are not a major determinant of risk or severity of childhood wheezing illness, though formaldehyde may increase symptom severity. Indoor damp increases both the risk and severity of childhood wheezing illness.
Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. andrea.venn@nottingham.ac.uk
A J
AJ
Venn
M
M
Cooper
M
M
Antoniak
C
C
Laughlin
J
J
Britton
S A
SA
Lewis
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000506:poisoning*; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D009930:Organic Chemicals