Abstract
BackgroundCigarette smoking and coal burning are the primary sources of indoor air pollution in Chinese households. However, effects of these exposures on Chinese children's respiratory health are not well characterized.MethodsSeventh grade students (N = 5051) from 22 randomly selected schools in the greater metropolitan area of Wuhan, China, completed an in-class self-administered questionnaire on their respiratory health and home environment.ResultsCoal burning for cooking and/or heating increased odds of wheezing with colds [odds ratio (OR) = 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07–2.29] and without colds (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.05–1.97). For smoking in the home, the strongest associations were seen for cough (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.17–2.60) and phlegm production (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.36–3.72) without colds among children who lived with two or more smokers.ConclusionsChinese children living with smokers or in coal-burning homes are at increased risk for respiratory impairment. While economic development in China may decrease coal burning by providing cleaner fuels for household energy use, the increasing prevalence of cigarette smoking is a growing public health concern due to its effects on children. Adverse effects of tobacco smoke exposure were seen despite the low rates of maternal smoking (3.6%) in this population.
Highlights
Cigarette smoking and coal burning are the primary sources of indoor air pollution in Chinese households
Use of coal stoves and smoking have been linked to respiratory morbidity among adult populations in mainland China [1,4,5,6], little is known about how these exposures affect Chinese children's respiratory health
We examined the associations between respiratory symptoms and exposure to residential coal burning and environmental tobacco smoke in a cross-sectional study of seventh grade students in the greater metropolitan area of Wuhan, China
Summary
Cigarette smoking and coal burning are the primary sources of indoor air pollution in Chinese households. Effects of these exposures on Chinese children's respiratory health are not well characterized. Residential coal burning and cigarette smoking are the most common sources of indoor air pollution in Chinese households [1,2,3]. Use of coal stoves and smoking have been linked to respiratory morbidity among adult populations in mainland China [1,4,5,6], little is known about how these exposures affect Chinese children's respiratory health. Some studies suggest that indoor concentrations of emitted pollutants may exceed international guidelines and national ambient air pollution standards in China [1,2]
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