Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2014 Nov;6(6):517-524. 10.4168/aair.2014.6.6.517.

Relationship Between Indoor Air Pollutant Levels and Residential Environment in Children With Atopic Dermatitis

• Lee JH
• Lee HS
• Park MR
• Lee SW
• Kim EH
• Cho JB
• Kim J
• Han Y
• Jung K
• Cheong HK
• Lee SI
• Ahn K

• KMID: 2260174
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2014.6.6.517

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between indoor air pollutant levels and residential environment in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) living in Seoul.
METHODS
A total of 150 children with AD were included. Residential environment was assessed by questionnaires which were completed by their parents. To evaluate the level of exposure to the indoor air pollutants, concentrations of the indoor air pollutants including particulate matter with diameter less than 10 microm (PM10), formaldehyde, carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC), benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, xylene, styrene, bacterial aerosols, and airborne fungi were measured.
RESULTS
A significant difference was exhibited in the levels of PM10 in case of visible fungus on the walls (P=0.047). There was relationship between the construction year of the house, moving to a newly constructed building within 1 year and formaldehyde level. With the use of artificial air freshener, the differences were found in the concentrations of TVOC (P=0.003), benzene (P=0.015), toluene (P=0.012) and ethyl-benzene (P=0.027). The concentration of xylene was significantly high when oil was used as heating fuel (P=0.015). Styrene exhibited differences depending on building type and its concentrations were significantly high in a residential and commercial complex building (P=0.005). The indoor concentration of bacterial aerosols was significantly low with the use of air cleaner (P=0.045). High NO2, benzene concentrations were present in case of almost no ventilation (P=0.028 and P=0.028, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Individual residential environments are closely related with the levels of the indoor air pollutants. To alleviate AD symptoms, simple questions about residential environments such as visible fungus on the walls and the use of artificial air freshener are helpful to assess the possibility of increased indoor air pollutant levels when direct measurement is not available.

Keyword

Atopic dermatitis; environment; childhood; air pollution; pollutant

MeSH Terms

Aerosols
Air Pollutants
Air Pollution
Benzene
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Child*
Dermatitis, Atopic*
Formaldehyde
Fungi
Heating
Hot Temperature
Humans
Nitrogen Dioxide
Parents
Particulate Matter
Seoul
Styrene
Toluene
Ventilation
Xylenes
Surveys and Questionnaires
Aerosols
Air Pollutants
Benzene
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Formaldehyde
Nitrogen Dioxide
Particulate Matter
Styrene
Toluene
Xylenes

Figure

• 

  Figure Distribution of environmental factors mainly contributing to level of the indoor air pollutants. P<0.05, P<0.1, P<0.15. PM, particulate matter; CO2, carbon dioxide; CO, carbon monoxide; NO2, nitrogen dioxide; TVOC, total volatile organic compound.

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