Chronic respiratory effects of indoor formaldehyde exposure

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:5674207

Krzyzanowski, M; Quackenboss, J J; Lebowitz, M D

The relation of chronic respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function to formaldehyde (HCHO) in homes was studied in a sample of 298 children (6-15 years of age) and 613 adults. HCHO measurements were made with passive samplers two one-week periods. Data on chronic cough and phlegm, wheeze, attacks of breathlessness, and doctor diagnoses of chronic bronchitis and asthma were collected with self-completed questionnaires. Peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) were obtained during the evenings and mornings for up to 14 consecutive days for each individual. Significantly greater prevalence rates of asthma and chronic bronchitis were found in children from houses with HCHO levels 60-120 ppb than in those less exposed, especially in children also exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. In children, levels of PEFR linearly decreased with HCHO exposure, with estimated decrease due to 60 ppb of HCHO equivalent to 22% of PEFR level in nonexposed children.

• Research Organization: Arizona Univ., Tucson, AZ (United States). Health Sciences Center
• OSTI ID: 5674207
• Report Number(s): PB-91-177238/XAB
• 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.
ADULTS
AEROSOLS
AGE GROUPS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
AIR SAMPLERS
ALDEHYDES
ASTHMA
BRONCHITIS
CHILDREN
COLLOIDS
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EQUIPMENT
FLOW RATE
FORMALDEHYDE
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SAMPLERS
SENSITIVITY
SMOKES
SOLS
TOBACCO SMOKES
TOXICITY