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Title: Chronic respiratory effects of indoor formaldehyde exposure

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5674207

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
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Pub. in Environmental Research, v52 n2 p117-125 Aug 90. Prepared in cooperation with Panstwowy Zaklad Higieny, Warsaw (Poland). Sponsored by Health Effects Research Lab., Research Triangle Park, NC. Epidemiology Branch, and National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English