Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113379

Hsin-Jen Tsai, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Univeristy of Michigan, 109 S. Observatory, SPH I, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-9759873, hjtsai@umich.edu and Alan C. Tsai, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 109 S. Observatory, M6218, SPH II, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

A survey questionnaire elicited experiences of asthma illness, ALS (asthma-like symptoms), and characteristics of REF (residential environmental factors) from 2290 5th grade schoolchildren. ALS included persistent cough, chest tightness, wheezing with cold, wheezing without cold, dyspnea-associated wheezing and exercise-induced cough or wheezing. Results showed that 9.75% of schoolchildren had PDA (physician-diagnosed asthma) and 21.82% had SA (suspected asthma, defined as experienced three or more ALS over the past 12 months or PDA). Boys had higher rates of PDA and ALS. Approximately 18% schoolchildren experienced three or more ALS over past 12 months. Factory exhaust/irritant chemical vapor was associated with increases in all six ALS (all P<0.05); passive smoking, exposure to leaking gas, use of wool blanket, having indoor pets, and cohabiting with cockroaches were associated with five increases of six ALS; incense-burning, cohabiting with rodents and damp floors with four increases of six ALS. Mosquito-repellent-incense burning and dehumidifier use with one and two increases, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that dehumidifier use, exposure to factory exhaust/irritant chemical vapor and leaking gas, and cohabiting with cockroaches were significantly associated with increased rates of PDA and SA (all P<0.05). Use of wool blanket and damp floors were also associated with the increased rates of SA. Results of this study suggest that many REF, especially factory exhaust/irritant chemical vapor, passive smoking, leaking gas, use of wool blanket, having indoor pets, cockroaches, incense-burning, rodents and damp floors can increase the risk of asthma illness or ALS in schoolchildren.

Learning Objectives:

• A survey study was conducted to determine the association of residential environmental factors (REF) with asthma and ALS (asthma-like symptoms) in schoolchildren.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.