Association of indoor nitrogen dioxide with respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in children

Journal Article · Mon Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · American Journal of Epidemiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5164928

Neas, L M; Dockery, D W; Ware, J H; Spengler, J D; Speizer, F E; Ferris, Jr, B G ^[1]

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1. Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (USA)

The effect of indoor nitrogen dioxide on the cumulative incidence of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function level was studied in a cohort of 1,567 white children aged 7-11 years examined in six US cities from 1983 through 1988. Week-long measurements of nitrogen dioxide were obtained at three indoor locations over 2 consecutive weeks in both the winter and the summer months. The household annual average nitrogen dioxide concentration was modeled as a continuous variable and as four ordered categories. Multiple logistic regression analysis of symptom reports from a questionnaire administered after indoor monitoring showed that a 15-ppb increase in the household annual nitrogen dioxide mean was associated with an increased cumulative incidence of lower respiratory symptoms (odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (95% Cl) 1.1-1.7). The response variable indicated the report of one or more of the following symptoms: attacks of shortness of breath with wheeze, chronic wheeze, chronic cough, chronic phlegm, or bronchitis. Girls showed a stronger association (OR = 1.7, 95% Cl 1.3-2.2) than did boys (OR = 1.2, 95% Cl 0.9-1.5). An analysis of pulmonary function measurements showed no consistent effect of nitrogen dioxide. These results are consistent with earlier reports based on categorical indicators of household nitrogen dioxide sources and provide a more specific association with nitrogen dioxide as measured in children's homes.

• OSTI ID: 5164928
• Journal Information: American Journal of Epidemiology; (United States), Journal Name: American Journal of Epidemiology; (United States) Vol. 134:2; ISSN 0002-9262; ISSN AJEPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE GROUPS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
BODY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHILDREN
DISEASE INCIDENCE
DISEASES
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
LUNGS
MATHEMATICS
MONITORING
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEX DEPENDENCE
STATISTICS
SYMPTOMS
TOXICITY
VARIATIONS