Asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema among parents of preschool children in relation to climate, and dampness and mold in dwellings in China

Juan Wang; Zhuohui Zhao; Yinping Zhang; Baizhan Li; Chen Huang; Xin Zhang; Qihong Deng; Chan Lu; Hua Qian; Xu Yang; Yuexia Sun; Jan Sundell; Dan Norbäck

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.104910

Asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema among parents of preschool children in relation to climate, and dampness and mold in dwellings in China

Environ Int. 2019 Sep:130:104910. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104910. Epub 2019 Jun 18.

Authors

Juan Wang¹, Zhuohui Zhao², Yinping Zhang³, Baizhan Li⁴, Chen Huang⁵, Xin Zhang⁶, Qihong Deng⁷, Chan Lu⁷, Hua Qian⁸, Xu Yang⁹, Yuexia Sun¹⁰, Jan Sundell¹⁰, Dan Norbäck¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: juan.wang@medsci.uu.se.
² Department of Environmental Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
³ School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
⁴ Joint International Research Laboratory of Green Buildings and Built Environments (Ministry of Education), Chongqing University, Chongqing, China; National Centre for International Research of Low-carbon and Green Buildings (Ministry of Science and Technology), Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
⁵ Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, School of environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
⁶ Research Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
⁷ Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China; School of Energy Science and engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China.
⁸ School of Energy Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
⁹ College of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.
¹⁰ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
¹¹ Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

PMID: 31226554
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104910

Abstract

The main aim was to study associations between asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema among adults across China and dampness and mold at home. Young adults (N = 40,279) in eight cities in China answered a questionnaire in 2010-2012 (response rate 75.0%). Data on asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and the home environment was assessed by the questionnaire. Climate data was obtained from China Meteorological Administration and the website of Weather Underground. Health associations were analyzed by two-level logistic regression models, adjusting for covariates. Totally 1.6% had asthma, 6.6% allergic rhinitis and 2.2% eczema. Mold odor was associated with asthma (OR = 1.90) and allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.25-1.44). Window pane condensation in winter was associated with asthma (OR = 1.39), allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.26-1.58) and eczema (OR = 1.36-1.77). Presence of mold spots or damp stains was related to asthma (OR = 1.58-2.49), allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.35-1.76) and eczema (OR = 1.47-1.70). Water damage was related to asthma (OR = 1.69-1.82), allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.40-1.45) and eczema (OR = 1.44-1.96). Damp bed clothing was related to asthma (OR = 1.23), allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.23) and eczema (OR = 1.35). A higher dampness score was associated with increased odds ratios for diseases. Those living in older buildings had more asthma (OR = 1.39-1.76) and allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.16-1.21). Those living in suburban or rural areas had less asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema as compared to those living in urban areas (OR values from 0.24 to 0.66). Stronger health associations with dampness and mold were found in southern China and in newer buildings (constructed after 2005). In conclusion, dampness and mold at home can be risk factors for asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema among adults in China. Living in older buildings can be risk factors for asthma or allergic rhinitis while living in less urbanized areas can be protective.

Keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Asthma; Climate; Dampness; Eczema; Mold.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Air Pollution, Indoor / analysis
Asthma / epidemiology*
Asthma / etiology
China / epidemiology
Eczema / epidemiology*
Eczema / etiology
Female
Fungi / isolation & purification*
Humans
Humidity*
Male
Middle Aged
Parents*
Rhinitis, Allergic / epidemiology*
Rhinitis, Allergic / etiology
Risk Factors
Young Adult