Nitrogen dioxide and respiratory infection: Pilot investigations

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Research Report Health Effects Institue; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/139.5.1073· OSTI ID:7110433

Samet, J M; Spengler, J D ^[1]

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1. Univ. of New Mexico Medical Center, Albuquerque (USA)

Laboratory and human studies have raised concern that exposure to nitrogen dioxide may increase the frequency and severity of respiratory infections in children and adults. Cooking with a natural-gas-fueled stove exposes a home's residents to short-term peaks of nitrogen oxides and to higher average levels of nitrogen oxides than are measured in homes with electric stoves. We have designed a longitudinal study of infants to determine if nitrogen dioxide exposure from cooking stoves increases the incidence or severity of respiratory infections during the first 18 months of life. Pilot investigations for the longitudinal study were conducted from 1984 through 1986. This report provides the results of the pilot investigations. The first study, conducted in 1984 and 1985, was designed to document that appropriate subjects could be recruited; that nitrogen dioxide concentrations in Albuquerque homes were in the range of interest; that an infant's personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide could be estimated; and that a valid, feasible approach for surveillance could be implemented. To accomplish these goals, the families of infants were recruited at two Albuquerque hospitals, and their homes were monitored for nitrogen dioxide using a passive sampling tube. With this approach, we successfully recruited 147 households; monitoring for nitrogen dioxide showed substantially higher levels in homes with gas stoves than in homes with electric stoves, as previously found in other U.S. cities. More detailed investigations in a sample of the homes showed that personal exposures of the infants, who did not attend day care, could be satisfactorily estimated by room concentrations. We also demonstrated that mothers would complete a daily calendar-diary on respiratory symptoms and provide information every two weeks on illnesses occurring since the previous surveillance call.

• OSTI ID: 7110433
• Journal Information: Research Report Health Effects Institue; (USA), Journal Name: Research Report Health Effects Institue; (USA) Vol. 28; ISSN RRHIE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030500* -- Natural Gas-- Health & Safety
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
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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
APPLIANCES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHILDREN
DISEASE INCIDENCE
DISEASES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENERGY SOURCES
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FEDERAL REGION VI
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INFANTS
NATURAL GAS
NEW MEXICO
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SENSITIVITY
STOVES
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USA