Indoor Air Quality and Its Association with Respiratory Health among Malay Preschool Children in Shah Alam and Hulu Langat, Selangor (original) (raw)
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Advances in Environmental Biology, 2015
Background: Indoor pollution sources are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems that will cause adverse health effects to the children. Objective: To determine the exposure of IAQ and its association towards respiratory health among preschool children in industrial and non-industrial area. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among Malay preschool children in Shah Alam and Hulu Langat, Selangor. A total of 50 preschool children aged 5-6 years old from preschools located in Shah Alam (exposed group) and Hulu Langat (comparative group) were selected. A set of questionnaire was used to obtain the background information, exposure history and respiratory symptoms.MM-SPOO4 Tabletop Portable Spirometer were used to conduct a lung function test among the children. IAQ parameters obtained includes indoor concentration of particulate matter (PM), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, air velocity (AV) and relative humidity. Results: There was a significance difference between IAQ in exposed and comparative preschools for all parameters measured (p< 0.005). There were also significant associations between PM10 with cough, phlegm and chest tightness (PR=5.25, 95% CI= 1.12-24.6), (PR=2.63, 95% CI= 1.09-6.31) and (PR=1.63, 95% CI= 1.40-1.91). Results also show significant associations between PM10 and VOCs with FEV% (PR=5.55, 95% CI= 2.189-14.07), (PR=6.15, 95% CI= 2.565-14.73). Conclusion: The finding showed that exposures to poor IAQ might increase the risk of getting lung function abnormality and respiratory illness among study respondent.
Journal CleanWAS, 2018
Particulate matter (PM) is one of the primary pollutants found in the indoor environment. It can cause deterioration of the indoor air quality (IAQ) and is often linked with adverse health effects especially towards susceptible subgroup of the population like children. School children are exposed to PM inside the classroom, as this indoor PM may originate from both indoor and outdoor sources. Furthermore, ambient surrounding could be one of the major factors that contribute to its high concentration, specifically for school environment like government-subsidized schools in Malaysia whereby the schools are using natural ventilation systems to control the thermal comfort inside the classrooms. Hence the infiltration of outdoor PM into the indoor is probably high and significant. The high concentration of PM may affect the children's health and learning performances. Due to this reason, it is important to study the effects of PM towards children. Thus, this study aims to assess the concentrations of PM and selected IAQ parameters in the school indoor environment with distinct background characteristics including residential, industrial, and rural areas. PM and IAQ parameters (temperature, relative humidity (RH), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2)) were assessed for 8-hours duration via DustMate Environmental Dust Detector (Turnkey Instruments, USA) and VelociCalc ® Multi-Function Ventilation Meter 9565 (TSI ® , USA) respectively, during occupied and non-occupied time in the classrooms. Second, considering the children's prolonged and repetitive exposure towards PM in school indoor environment and their body sensitivity, this study also screened for the prevalence of non-specific respiratory disease (NSRD) and persistent cough and phlegm (PCP) among children via structured questionnaire developed by American Thoracic Society's Division of Lung Diseases (ATS-DLD-78-C). Higher concentrations of PM and prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the school from the industrial area were expected, due to the high concentration of PM originated from nearby industrial activities and anthropogenic sources. Hopefully, better understanding and insights on the issue were obtained through this study.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT, 2021
The use of biomass fuels in palm oil boilers produces pollutants into the air, such as particulate matter (PM). PM has been linked to many respiratory health symptoms in humans, especially children. This study aims to determine the exposure of PM 10 and PM 2.5 in the air and its association with respiratory symptoms and lung function implications among children in Semenyih, Selangor. A cross-sectional study was carried out among primary school children in Hulu Langat and Semenyih, Selangor. Eighty-six children from two primary schools in Hulu Langat were selected for the comparative group, while 50 children from two primary schools in Semenyih were selected for the study group. 30 and 32 houses were selected as study and comparative sites. A validated questionnaire from American Thoracic Society (ATS-DLD-78-C) was used to determine respondents' background, previous illnesses and respiratory symptoms. PM 10 and PM 2.5 were measured in schools and houses using the TSI DustTrak DRX Aerosol Monitor Model 8534 and Escort LC Personal Sampling Pump. A spirometer was used to obtain lung function status among children. Analysis showed high levels of PM 10 and PM 2.5 recorded in schools and houses of the study areas at p<0.05. The highest concentrations of PM 10 (mean: 117.13 µg/m 3) and PM 2.5 (mean: 76.22 117.13 µg/m 3) in a school were detected in S2, located 650m from the palm oil plant. High levels of PM 10 (PR=14.24, 95% CI=4.17-48.53) and PM 2.5 (PR=30.0, 95% CI=5.936-151.62) were found in houses in the study area (p<0.05). Significant levels of all respiratory health symptoms in schools were recorded at p<0.05 for cough (PR=2.90, 95% CI=1.24-6.80), phlegm (PR=9.72, 95% CI=2.61-36.16), wheezing (PR=6.30, 95% CI=2.11-18.81) and chest tightness (PR=8.74, 95% CI=2.33-32.77). High levels of PM 10 were significantly associated with cough (p=0.013, PR=4.72, 95% CI=1.43-15.59) and wheezing (p=0.029, PR=4.83, 95% CI=1.18-19.80) in houses. Cough (p=0.02, PR=6.43, 95% CI=1.26-32.83) and phlegm (p=0.049, PR=7.75, 95% CI=0.87-68.77) symptoms were associated with the high exposure to PM 2.5 in houses. Significant lung function abnormalities of FVC, FEV 1 and FEV 1 /FVC were found among children in the study group (p<0.05). PM 10 had significant inverse relationship with FVC% (p=0.018, r=-0.332) and FEV 1 % (p=0.001, r=-0.438) parameters, while PM 2.5 had a significant inverse correlation with FEV 1 % (p=0.049, r=-0.042). Concentration of PM 10 has been identified as a factor influencing the FVC (p=0.028, PR=1.02, 95% CI=1.002-1.038) and FEV 1 (p=0.023, PR=1.018, 95% CI=1.002-1.035) lung function status after controlling all confounders. This study concludes that palm oil plants release large amounts of PM 10 and PM 2.5 into the air and have increased the risk of lung function abnormalities and respiratory illnesses among children who live near this industrial site.
This study was conducted to determine the exposure of (PM 2.5) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and their association towards respiratory health among preschool children in an industrial area. 100 preschool children aged between 5-6 years old were involved in this cross sectional study with the exposed group consisting of 50 children who live near the industrial area, while the comparative group consisting of 50 children who live far from industrial area. The questionnaires adapted from American Thoracic Society questionnaire were filled by their parents. Lung function test was done using MM-SPOO4 Tabletop Portable Spirometer. Gillian Air Pump and Pbbrae Portable VOC Monitor (Pbbrae 3000) were used to measure the amount of PM2.5and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) respectively. There was a significant difference between exposed and comparative group for lung function test and lung function abnormality. Besides that, there was also a significant difference for prevalence of reported between studied and comparative groups for cough, phlegm and wheezing with 3 times more likelihood of getting cough for studied group (PR= 3.451, 95% CI =1.22-9.76). There was a correlation between PM2.5 with FEV1/FVC of all respondents involved in this study. Exposed group has an increased risk for respiratory symptoms and reduction of lung function from exposure to indoor PM2.5 andVOCs but not statistically significant. The findings conclude that there was a significant difference between exposedand comparative group for lung function test. Plus, respondents living near an industrial have a risk of getting lung function abnormality and respiratory problem.
Indoor Air Quality Assessment and Lung Functions among Children in Preschool at Selangor, Malaysia
Background: Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) has been associated with decreased growth in lung function among children. However, only little is known about the impact of poor IAQ. A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among 39 preschools located in Selangor, Malaysia with 630 children from preschools located in urban, suburban and rural area. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess current IAQ status of preschools located in urban, suburban and rural area in Selangor and to compare the implications on children's lung functions. Results: There was a significant difference between the indoor concentration of carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM) PM10, PM2.5 and Volatile Organic compounds (VOCs)(p = 0.001; p = 0.005; p = 0.005; p = 0.006) among the studied preschools. Urban area preschools have higher CO, PM10 and PM2.5 concentration as compared to preschools from suburban and rural area. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), FVC% predicted and FEV1% predicted values were significantly lower among children from urban and suburban area preschools [(F = 5.708, p = 0.003); (F = 6.985, p = 0.001); (F = 15.219, p = 0.001); (F = 16.441, p = 0.001)]. Conclusion: The findings concluded that exposures to poor IAQ might increase the risk of getting lung function abnormality among children
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2016
It is essential in pulmonary disease research to take into account traffic-related air pollutant exposure among urban inhabitants. In our study, 4985 people were examined for spirometric parameters in the presented research which was conducted in the years 2008-2012. The research group was divided into urban and rural residents. Traffic density, traffic structure and velocity, as well as concentrations of selected air pollutants (CO, NO 2 and PM 10) were measured at selected areas. Among people who live in the city, lower percentages of predicted values of spirometric parameters were noticed in comparison to residents of rural areas. Taking into account that the difference in the five-year mean concentration of PM 10 in the considered city and rural areas was over 17 µg/m 3 , each increase of PM 10 by 10 µg/m 3 is associated with the decline in FEV 1 (forced expiratory volume during the first second of expiration) by 1.68%. These findings demonstrate that traffic-related air pollutants may have a significant influence on the decline of pulmonary function and the growing rate of respiratory diseases.
Indoor air pollution and the respiratory health of children
Pediatric Pulmonology, 1999
Indoor air pollution (IAP) is a key contributor to the global burden of disease mainly in developing countries. The use of solid fuel for cooking and heating is the main source of IAP in developing countries, accounting for an estimated 3.5 million deaths and 4.5% of Disability-Adjusted Life Years in 2010. Other sources of IAP include indoor smoking, infiltration of pollutants from outdoor sources and substances emitted from an array of human utilities and biological materials. Children are among the most vulnerable groups for adverse effects of IAP. The respiratory system is a primary target of air pollutants resulting in a wide range of acute and chronic effects. The spectrum of respiratory adverse effects ranges from mild subclinical changes and mild symptoms to life threatening conditions and even death. However, IAP is a modifiable risk factor having potential mitigating interventions. Possible interventions range from simple behavior change to structural changes and from shifting of unclean cooking fuel to clean cooking fuel. Shifting from use of solid fuel to clean fuel invariably reduces household air pollution in developing countries, but such a change is challenging. This review aims to summarize the available information on IAP exposure during childhood and its effects on respiratory health in developing countries. It specifically discusses the common sources of IAP, susceptibility of children to air pollution, mechanisms of action, common respiratory conditions, preventive and mitigating strategies.