Chemical exposure and respiratory health of children in an industrial setting

Abstract

Parental exposures to chemicals, and the interplay between chemical exposures in utero and in infancy leading to respiratory disease in childhood, are not yet fully understood. In this study we investigated the impact of chemical exposures to the parent in occupational settings and to the child in the home and children's respiratory health. A cross-sectional study of lung function and respiratory health was conducted in primary school children in the Kwinana industrial area, south of Perth, Western Australia. Respiratory health was assessed using a standardized questionnaire and lung function was measured using the forced oscillation technique before and after inhaling 200 μg of salbutamol. Univariate logistic regression models were used to explore the relationship between the child's respiratory health (asthma, lung function, bronchodilator response) and exposures to ceramics, dry cleaning fluid, electroplating fluid, glues, leather, fabrics, dyes, insecticides, plastics, metal cleaning fluid, petrol, paint, photochemicals, electric wiring, machining, welding, X-rays, cleaning products, nail products, and "other exposures". The impact of cigarette smoking in the home and family history on respiratory health were also investigated. No associations were found between parental occupational exposures or child's exposures in the home and respiratory health. Significant associations were observed between current smoking in the home and cigarette exposure in the first year of life and poor respiratory health in the children. We found no strong evidence of main effects of occupational exposures in impairing the respiratory health of primary school-aged children.