Indoor Air Quality and Respiratory Health among Malay Preschool Children in Selangor

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has been the object of several studies due to its adverse health effects on children. Methods. A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among Malay children in Balakong (2 studied preschools) and Bangi (2 comparative preschools), Selangor, with the aims of determining IAQ and its association with respiratory health. 61 and 50 children aged 5-6 years were selected as studied and comparative groups. A questionnaire was used to obtain an exposure history and respiratory symptoms. Lung function test was carried out. IAQ parameters obtained include indoor concentration of particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, air velocity (AV), and relative humidity. Results. There was a significant difference between IAQ in studied and comparative preschools for all parameters measured (P < 0.001) except for CO2 and AV. Studied preschools had higher PM and CO concentration. FVC, FEV1, FVC% and FEV1% predicted values were significantly lower among studied group. Exposures to PM, VOCs, and CO were associated with wheezing. Conclusion. The finding concluded that exposures to poor IAQ might increase the risk of getting lung function abnormality and respiratory problems among study respondents.

Indoor air quality in preschools (3- to 5-year-old children) in the Northeast of Portugal during spring–summer season: pollutants and comfort parameters

“…P2 classroom presented higher levels of TVOC than P1 educational playroom possibly due to room decoration and materials (children' handmade drawings and the presence of art craft supply that were suspended from the ceiling and/or glued to the walls). These findings are in agreement with the results reported by Rawi et al (2015) and Godwin & Batterman (2007). Indoor morning and afternoon concentrations of TVOC were higher than levels reported in the indoor air of Malay (0.08 ppm at Balakong area and 0.11 ppm at Bangi area (Rawi et al, 2015)), Italian (0.008-0.04 ppm (Vassura et al, 2015)), and Korean (0.59 mg/m 3 , 0.07-1.93 mg/m 3 (Yoon et al, 2011)) preschools.…”

“…These findings are in agreement with the results reported by Rawi et al (2015) and Godwin & Batterman (2007). Indoor morning and afternoon concentrations of TVOC were higher than levels reported in the indoor air of Malay (0.08 ppm at Balakong area and 0.11 ppm at Bangi area (Rawi et al, 2015)), Italian (0.008-0.04 ppm (Vassura et al, 2015)), and Korean (0.59 mg/m 3 , 0.07-1.93 mg/m 3 (Yoon et al, 2011)) preschools. Regarding Portuguese data, P1 and P2 TVOC indoor levels were also higher than concentrations reported in 14 primary schools situated in Lisbon during the spring season (37-317 µg/m 3 (Pegas et al, 2011b), 300 ± 330 µg/m 3 (Pegas et al, 2011a;Paciência et al 2016).…”

“…At both preschools TVOC concentrations were significantly higher indoors than outdoors. TVOC I/O ratios suggested the prevalence of indoor sources, which is in agreement with observations of other investigators (Araújo- Martins et al, 2014;Nunes et al, 2016;Rawi et al, 2015;Vassura et al, 2015;Yoon et al, 2011). Among the many gaseous pollutants examined by Vassura and coworkers (2015), VOC and princi-pally aldehydes were the compounds that pre-sented the highest indoor source emissions.…”

“…Thus, it would seem that children exposure in preschools may vary from older students' envir-onments. During the last years, some studies con-cerning exposure of young children, that is, less than 5 years, to indoor air pollutants at educa-tional microenvironments were reported for: 1) nurseries (Branco et al, 2014(Branco et al, , 2015a(Branco et al, , 2015bNunes et al, 2015Nunes et al, , 2016, 2) day-care centers and kindergartens (Araújo-Martins et al, 2014;Carreiro-Martins et al, 2014;Cyprowski et al, 2013;Gładyszewska-Fiedoruk, 2013;Yang et al, 2009), and 3) preschools (Fonseca et al, 2014;Latif et al, 2014;Oliveira et al, 2015aOliveira et al, , 2015bOliveira et al, , 2015cOliveira et al, , 2016aOliveira et al, , 2016bOliveira et al, , 2016cSlezakova et al, 2015;Rawi et al, 2015;Vassura et al, 2015;Wichmann et al, 2010;Yoon et al, 2011). Some of these investigations mainly focused on ventilation and/ or carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) levels as a global IAQ indicator (Branco et al, 2015a;Carreiro-Martins et al, 2014;Gładyszewska-Fiedoruk, 2013;Latif et al, 2014;.…”

Association of particulate matter pm with respiratory symptoms among children in selected primary schools in pahang

“…In an instance, a study by some researcher has demonstrated that school children living in an exposed area within the vicinity of the petrochemical industry of Kerteh, Terengganu have significantly higher respiratory symptoms compared to non-exposed area [5]. Similar research conducted among preschool children in Selangor, Malaysia by Rawi further support the fact of higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms were experienced among children who attended preschools in the area with heavy traffic density [19]. Contrary to expectations, results from this study did not in line with the previous research.…”