Indoor air in schools and lung function of Austrian school children.
Summary of "Indoor air in schools and lung function of Austrian school children."
The Children's Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE) of WHO focuses (inter alia) on improving indoor environments where children spend most of their time. At present, only little is known about air pollution in schools and its effect on the lung function of school children. Our project was set up as an Austrian contribution to CEHAPE. In a cross-sectional approach, differences in indoor pollution in nine elementary all-day schools were assessed and 34 of these pollutants were analyzed for a relationship with respiratory health determined by spirometry using a linear regression model. Overall 596 children (aged 6-10 years) were eligible for the study. Spirometry was performed in 433 children. Socio-economic status, area of living (urban/rural), and smoking at home were included in the model as potential confounders with school-related average concentration of air pollutants as the variable of primary interest. A negative association with flow volumes (MEF(75)) was found for formaldehyde in air samples, benzylbutylphthalate and the sum of polybrominated diphenylethers in school dust. FVC and FEV(1) were negatively associated with ethylbenzene and xylenes in air samples and tris(1,3-dichlor-2-propyl)-phosphate on particulates. Although, in general, the quality of school indoor air was not worse than that reported for homes, effects on the respiratory health of children cannot be excluded. A multi-faceted strategy to improve the school environment is needed.
Affiliation
Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria. hans-peter.hutter@meduniwien.ac.at.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Journal of environmental monitoring : JEM
ISSN: 1464-0333
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22652689
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c2em30059a
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
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Air Pollution, Indoor
The contamination of indoor air.
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An individual intelligence test designed primarily for school children to predict school performance and the ability to adjust to everyday demands.
School Dentistry
Preventive dental services provided for students in primary and secondary schools.
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