Occupational and environmental risk factors for respiratory symptoms in rural Beijing, China

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of occupational and environmental exposure on respiratory symptoms in adults in rural Beijing, China.Thirty randomly selected villages in the counties of Shunyi and Tongxian, 50 km north and east, respectively, of the city of Beijing, China, participated in this study. Village doctors interviewed all residents aged ≥15 yrs and completed the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Questionnaire on Bronchial Symptoms translated into Chinese with added questions on smoking and occupational and environmental exposure.Of the eligible population, 22,528 adults (98%) took part. The prevalence of all respiratory symptoms,i.e.asthma-like symptoms, asthma attacks in the last 12 months, chronic cough and chronic phlegm, was low. Significant determinants for respiratory symptoms were age, sex, smoking and county of residence. A dose-dependent relationship was found between cumulative cigarette consumption and prevalence of respiratory symptoms. After adjusting for these variables, exposure to insecticides and fertilisers significantly increased the risk of most of the respiratory symptoms, whereas exposure to indoor air pollution from domestic fuels did not.Exposure to chemicals such as insecticides and fertilisers contributed independently to the risk of respiratory symptoms in rural Beijing, China.

Prevalence of Asthma and Asthma-Related Symptoms Among Adults Exposed to Indoor Environmental Risk Factors: a Comparison between Winter and Summer in Zunyi, China

“…This study found that the prevalence of asthma in winter and in summer in the adult population of Zunyi were 1.8% and 0.8%, respectively, using data collected from a random sample of the registered population, which was lower than those reported by Western European (4.1%), Eastern European (5.4%) and American (15.4%) studies [12][13][14], plus a study conducted in three Chinese cities in 1988 (3.6%) [15]. The rates were closer to the fi ndings of two community-based studies (1.9% vs. 2.0%) performed in rural Beijing in China [16][17]. In general terms, higher prevalence rates have been found among adults from Western countries than in developing countries.…”

Pesticide use and chronic bronchitis among farmers in the agricultural health study

“…Previous investigators have reported increased cough and/or phlegm among Ohio grain farmers applying pesticides [Wilkins, et al 1999], Iowa farmers applying pesticides to animals [Sprince, et al 2000], individuals working with insecticides in rural Beijing [Zhang, et al 2002], Singapore residents using pesticides and other chemicals in the workplace [LeVan, et al 2005], and chronic bronchitis cases in Lebanon [Salameh, et al 2006]. Ohio grain farmers working with pesticides were approximately 50-80% more likely to report chronic cough or phlegm than other farmers after adjustment for other farming risk factors [Wilkins, et al 1999].…”

“…In the Iowa Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance project, farmers applying pesticides to livestock were almost twice as likely to report chronic phlegm, even after controlling for animal exposures themselves [Sprince, et al 2000]. Among residents in rural Beijing, China, chronic cough and phlegm were twice as common among individuals working with insecticides; though no information was reported regarding animal exposures [Zhang, et al 2002]. In a case-control study in Lebanon, use of pesticides was associated with chronic bronchitis after adjustment for smoking; the odds ratio for occupational exposure was 8.85 (95% CI=1.15, 66.7) [Salameh, et al 2006].…”

Environmental exposure to pesticides and respiratory health

“…Regular exposure to insecticides was significantly associated with wheezing (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.6), chronic cough (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.3) and asthma attacks over the past 12 months (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.9). Exposure to fertilisers was significantly associated with a risk of wheezing (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8) as well as a slight increase in chronic cough (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.9-1.8) and asthma attacks over the past 12 months (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.9-1.7) [48].…”