Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2015 May;3(3):206-212. 10.4168/aard.2015.3.3.206.

Indoor air pollutants and atopic dermatitis in socioeconomically disadvantaged children

• Seo SC
• Kang IS
• Lim SG
• Choung JT
• Yoo Y

• KMID: 2168491
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2015.3.3.206

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aims of this study were to examine indoor concentrations of air pollutants in socioeconomically disadvantaged houses and to investigate relationships between indoor air pollutant levels and the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD).
METHODS
A total of 54 children who had a past history or current symptoms of AD were enrolled in the study. To evaluate the levels of indoor air pollutants, we measured concentrations of CO2, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde, particulate matter with diameter less than 10 microm (PM10), airborne mold and numbers of house dust mite (HDM) in dust of the children's houses. All studied subjects completed physical examination for the severity of AD and blood tests.
RESULTS
Although the mean (+/-standard deviation [SD]) concentration of indoor CO2 (600.6+/-179.4 ppm) was lower than the standard recommended levels of multiplex buildings in Korea, there was a significant correlation between CO2 concentrations and the severity of AD (r=0.302, P=0.030). The geometric means (range of 1 SD) of TVOC (42.5 microg/m3 [22.2-81.5]), formaldehyde (24.3 microg/m3 [15.0-39.9]), PM10 (26.6 microg/m3 [14.6-48.4]), and airborne mold (49.9 CFU [colony forming unit]/m3 [26.3-94.6]) were not significantly higher than the standard recommended levels of multiplex buildings. Two-thirds of the subjects were sensitized to at least 1 of the common allergens.
CONCLUSION
Generally, indoor air pollution was not serious in socioeconomically disadvantaged households. However, indoor CO2 concentrations are closely related to the severity of AD in children living in socioeconomically disadvantaged houses. Environmental amelioration targeting vulnerable population may improve the quality of life and decrease the prevalence of environmental allergic diseases.

Keyword

Atopic dermatitis; Child; Indoor air pollution

MeSH Terms

Air Pollutants*
Air Pollution, Indoor
Allergens
Child*
Dermatitis, Atopic*
Dust
Family Characteristics
Formaldehyde
Fungi
Hematologic Tests
Humans
Korea
Particulate Matter
Physical Examination
Prevalence
Pyroglyphidae
Quality of Life
Volatile Organic Compounds
Vulnerable Populations*
Air Pollutants
Allergens
Dust
Formaldehyde
Particulate Matter
Volatile Organic Compounds

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Correlations between indoor CO2 concentrations and SCORAD index in socioeconomically disadvantaged children. SCORAD, SCORing Atopic Dermatitis.

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