Higher prevalence of breathlessness in elderly exposed to indoor aldehydes and VOCs in a representative sample of French dwellings.
The purpose of this study was to explore respiratory health effects of indoor exposures to aldehydes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in elderly living in a population-based representative sample of French dwellings and to compare them to the rest of the occupants of the dwellings. Twenty VOCs were objectively measured in 490 main dwellings. The respiratory conditions were assessed through a standardized questionnaire in 1012 inhabitants aged over 15 years, 144 of whom were aged over 65 years. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to model the relationship between respiratory health outcomes and air pollutants concentrations using the median value of the distribution to define elevated exposure. Similar levels of indoor air pollutants were found in elderly and others. However, associations between breathlessness and living in dwellings with elevated concentrations of toluene and o-xylene respectively were statistically significant in elderly but not in the rest of the population (adjusted odds ratios (AOR(95% confidence interval) = 3.36(1.13, 9.98) and 2.85(1.06, 7.68) in elderly vs. 0.91(0.59, 1.39) and 0.79( 0.47, 1.34) in the others respectively). A more pronounced effect of n-decane on past year breathlessness was observed in case of poor ventilation in the dwellings. Our results showed a higher risk of breathlessness in elderly exposed to indoor air pollution than in the rest of the exposed population. Further investigations are needed to confirm whether this is related to frailty in elderly.
Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Department, INSERM UMR-S 707, 27 rue Chaligny, 75012 Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 6, Sorbonne Universités, UMR S 707: EPAR, Paris F-75012, France.
Malek
M
Bentayeb
Cécile
C
Billionnet
Nour
N
Baiz
Mickaël
M
Derbez
Séverine
S
Kirchner
Isabella
I
Annesi-Maesano
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014691:Ventilation / Q000592:standards; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
D000447:Aldehydes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
Aged; Aldehydes; COPD; Glycol ethers; Indoor air pollution; Respiratory disease; VOCs