Personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide and its association with respiratory illness in Hong Kong

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · American Review of Respiratory Disease (New York); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/141.5_Pt_1.1119· OSTI ID:6730256

Koo, L C; Ho, J H; Ho, C Y; Matsuki, H; Shimizu, H; Mori, T; Tominaga, S ^[1]

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1. Nam Long Hospital (Hong Kong)

In 1985, 362 primary schoolchildren and their 319 mothers were surveyed in Hong Kong to study the possible relationship of air pollution to respiratory illnesses. Using nitrogen dioxide (NO{sub 2}) measured by personal samplers as a measure of air pollution, the study aimed to identify the major sources of NO{sub 2} in the indoor environment and see whether its increased presence was associated with respiratory symptoms. The levels of NO{sub 2} among the mothers was found to increase by 21% if dust exposure was reported from the workplace, 18% if they used such cooking fuels as liquid petroleum gas or kerosene, 11% when kitchens did not have ventilating fans, and 10% when incense was burned at home. In terms of respiratory symptoms, an increase in NO{sub 2} levels of 19% was reported among those with allergic rhinitis and 18% among those with chronic cough. The levels of NO2 among children were correlated with levels measured in classrooms, all of which had opened windows so that the NO{sub 2} came from outdoors. No association was found between children's NO{sub 2} levels and respiratory symptoms. With the exception of smoking by the father and the children's NO{sub 2} levels, no association was found between smoking at home and NO{sub 2} levels.

• OSTI ID: 6730256
• Journal Information: American Review of Respiratory Disease (New York); (USA), Vol. 141; ISSN 0003-0805
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHILDREN
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
HONG KONG
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
HEALTH HAZARDS
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
MAN
POLLUTION SOURCES
AGE GROUPS
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
ASIA
CHALCOGENIDES
DISEASES
HAZARDS
MAMMALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
VERTEBRATES
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology