title: Prenatal VOC exposure and redecoration are related to wheezing in early infancy.
abstract: Redecoration of dwellings is a common behavior of expecting parents. Former studies gave evidence that early childhood exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) resulting from renovation activities may increase the risk for wheeze in infants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of prenatal exposure on early wheeze and to identify sensitive time windows. Within the LINA birth cohort study data on renovation activities and respiratory outcomes were assessed via questionnaires during pregnancy and at children's age of one. At both timepoints, also indoor VOC concentrations were measured. The associations were studied by logistic regression analysis. Floor covering during pregnancy contributed to an increased risk for physician treated wheeze (adjusted odds ratio OR=5.20, 95% confidence interval 1.8-15.2) during the first 12 months after birth in particular in children with an atopic predisposition. Thereby, wall-to-wall-carpets, PVC material, and laminate were the flooring materials which showed the strongest adverse associations. Floor covering was associated with enhanced concentrations of VOCs in the apartments. For the VOCs styrene, ethylbenzene, octane, 1-butanol, tridecane, and o-xylene, a significant association was found to the occurrence of wheezing symptoms. In contrast to pregnancy, exposure during the first 12 months after birth showed less detrimental associations. Only the association between wheezing and styrene as well as between wheezing and PVC flooring remained significant for exposure after birth. Redecoration during pregnancy, especially changing floor materials, increases the risk for respiratory diseases in early childhood and should therefore be avoided at least in families with a history of atopic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Core Facility 'Studies', Leipzig. Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Franck
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Core Facility 'Studies', Leipzig. Germany; University of Leipzig, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig. Germany.
authors.forename: Annegret
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Core Facility 'Studies', Leipzig. Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Röder
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Immunology; Leipzig. Germany.
authors.forename: Gunda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herberth
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Immunology; Leipzig. Germany.
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Metabolomics; Leipzig. Germany.
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kohajda
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Metabolomics; Leipzig. Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Proteomics; Leipzig. Germany; Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Denmark.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Bergen
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Metabolomics; Leipzig. Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Proteomics; Leipzig. Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rolle-Kampczyk
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Municipal Hospital Klinikum St. Georg, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Diez
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Municipal Hospital Klinikum St. Georg, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borte
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Core Facility 'Studies', Leipzig. Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Immunology; Leipzig. Germany. Electronic address: irina.lehmann@ufz.de.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lehmann
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
keywords: Childhood; Prenatal exposure; Redecoration; Volatile organic compounds; Wheezing