Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose was to determine the association between infant exposure to humidifier disinfectant (HD) with neuropsychiatric problems in pre-school children.MethodsA total of 2,150 children (age 4–11 months) were enrolled in the Panel Study of Korean Children (PSKC) study. The Korean version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used for assessments of neuropsychiatric problems. 1,113 children who participated in all the first to third PSKC studies and answered a question about HD exposure were finally enrolled.ResultsThere were 717 (64.5%) children in non-HD group who were not exposed to HD and 396 (35.5%) in HD group with former exposure to HD. Exposure to HD was associated with total neuropsychiatric problems (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.15–2.06), being emotionally reactive (aOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.00–2.39), having attention problems (aOR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.10–3.47), having oppositional defiant problems (aOR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.07–2.71), and having attention deficit/hyperactivity problems (aOR = 11.57, 95% CI = 1.03–2.38). The risks for neuropsychiatric problems were clearly increased in boy, firstborn, and secondary smoker.ConclusionsExposure to HD during early childhood had a potential association with subsequent behavioral abnormalities.
Highlights
The purpose was to determine the association between infant exposure to humidifier disinfectant (HD) with neuropsychiatric problems in pre-school children
In a previous study of 135 individuals who were exposed to HD, 82 adults and 19 children had high risk for depression, anxiety, anger, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [18]
Demographic characteristics of the study population We initially examined the baseline characteristics of 1,113 children from the Panel Study of Korean Children (PSKC) study (Table 1)
Summary
The purpose was to determine the association between infant exposure to humidifier disinfectant (HD) with neuropsychiatric problems in pre-school children. Nation-wide epidemiologic and animal studies confirmed that the outbreak of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in children and adults was caused by HD exposure. Most of the previous studies have focused on the relationship between HD exposure and lung injury in adults and children [15,16,17]. (we believe it is unlikely that the toxic effects of HD are limited to the respiratory system.) the association between various chemicals including air pollutants and neurodevelopment disease have been well known, the effect of HD is still limited. In a previous study of 135 individuals who were exposed to HD, 82 adults and 19 children had high risk for depression (self-evaluation), anxiety, anger, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [18]
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