Modern Life Makes Children Allergic. A Cross-sectional Study: Associations of Home Environment and Lifestyles with Asthma and Allergy Among Children in Tianjin Region, China

Overview

Journal Int Arch Occup Environ Health

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2019 Jan 11

PMID 30627853

Citations 8

Authors

Yuexia Sun

Jing Hou

Ying Sheng

Xiangrui Kong

Louise B Weschler

Jan Sundell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: In the past 60 years, the prevalences of asthma and allergy among children have increased around the world. Neither genetic nor outdoor environmental factors can explain this increase.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 7366 children in Tianjin, China, on associations of home environment and lifestyles with asthma and allergy.

Results: The prevalences of diagnosed asthma, rhinitis and eczema among 0- to 8-year-old children in the Tianjin area were 4%, 9% and 39%. Home environment and lifestyle, together with infections, were strong risk factors. For asthma and allergy, the population attributable fraction (PAF) due to modern floors and wall coverings (i.e., laminated wooden floors and painted walls compared to tile floors and lime-coated walls) was 22%. Window condensation in winter and air conditioner use in summer, both of which are proxies for less ventilation, accounted for 7-17% of rhinitis and eczema. Cesarean delivery accounted for 10% of eczema symptoms. We developed a modern life index from appropriate home characteristics and lifestyle and food consumption habits and found it to have a clear dose-response relationship with asthma and allergy in Tianjin children.

Conclusions: The results indicate that a "modern" home environment together with a modern lifestyle is associated with increased prevalences of asthma and allergies among children. Appropriate indoor environmental interventions and education of children's caregivers are important in the management of childhood asthma and allergy.

Citing Articles

Characteristics of Pediatric Allergic Rhinitis With Different Disease Severity.

Zeng Y, Lin T, Xie W, Gao S, Zeng Q, Luo X Mediators Inflamm. 2025; 2025():5553039.

PMID: 39850942 PMC: 11756943. DOI: 10.1155/mi/5553039.

Associations between home environmental factors and childhood eczema and related symptoms in different cities in China.

Zhang R, Weschler L, Ye J, Wang Z, Deng Q, Li B Heliyon. 2023; 9(11):e21718.

PMID: 38027650 PMC: 10661510. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21718.

Prevalence and Influencing Risk Factors of Eczema Among Preschool Children in Hail City.

Alshammrie F, Albarrak S, Alhuthaili A, Alakash S, Al Mansour M, Gammash M Cureus. 2023; 14(12):e32723.

PMID: 36686099 PMC: 9851571. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.32723.

Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds in Chinese Building Environment: A Systematic Review.

Ataei Y, Sun Y, Liu W, S Ellie A, Dong H, Ahmad U Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(1).

PMID: 36613006 PMC: 9819628. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010678.

Outdoor Air Pollution and Indoor Window Condensation Associated with Childhood Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis to Pollen.

Liu Y, Lu C, Li Y, Norback D, Deng Q Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(13).

PMID: 35805726 PMC: 9266097. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19138071.

References

Chen Y . [Comparative analysis of the state of asthma prevalence in children from two nation-wide surveys in 1990 and 2000 year]. Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi. 2004; 27(2):112-6. View

Bornehag C, Sundell J, Bonini S, Custovic A, Malmberg P, Skerfving S . Dampness in buildings as a risk factor for health effects, EUROEXPO: a multidisciplinary review of the literature (1998-2000) on dampness and mite exposure in buildings and health effects. Indoor Air. 2004; 14(4):243-57. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2004.00240.x. View

Bornehag C, Sundell J, Weschler C, Sigsgaard T, Lundgren B, Hasselgren M . The association between asthma and allergic symptoms in children and phthalates in house dust: a nested case-control study. Environ Health Perspect. 2004; 112(14):1393-7. PMC: 1247566. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.7187. View

Bornehag C, Sundell J, Hagerhed-Engman L, Sigsggard T, Janson S, Aberg N . 'Dampness' at home and its association with airway, nose, and skin symptoms among 10,851 preschool children in Sweden: a cross-sectional study. Indoor Air. 2005; 15 Suppl 10:48-55. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2005.00306.x. View

Bornehag C, Sundell J, Hagerhed-Engman L, Sigsgaard T . Association between ventilation rates in 390 Swedish homes and allergic symptoms in children. Indoor Air. 2005; 15(4):275-80. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2005.00372.x. View

Brasche S, Bischof W . Daily time spent indoors in German homes--baseline data for the assessment of indoor exposure of German occupants. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2005; 208(4):247-53. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2005.03.003. View

Bornehag C, Lundgren B, Weschler C, Sigsgaard T, Hagerhed-Engman L, Sundell J . Phthalates in indoor dust and their association with building characteristics. Environ Health Perspect. 2005; 113(10):1399-404. PMC: 1281287. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.7809. View

Braman S . The global burden of asthma. Chest. 2006; 130(1 Suppl):4S-12S. DOI: 10.1378/chest.130.1_suppl.4S. View

Althabe F, Belizan J . Caesarean section: the paradox. Lancet. 2006; 368(9546):1472-3. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69616-5. View

10.

Tham K, Zuraimi M, Koh D, Chew F, Ooi P . Associations between home dampness and presence of molds with asthma and allergic symptoms among young children in the tropics. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2007; 18(5):418-24. DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2007.00544.x. View

11.

Sun Y, Sundell J, Zhang Y . Validity of building characteristics and dorm dampness obtained in a self-administrated questionnaire. Sci Total Environ. 2007; 387(1-3):276-82. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.07.001. View

12.

Sun Y, Zhang Y, Sundell J, Fan Z, Bao L . Dampness at dorm and its associations with allergy and airways infection among college students in China: a cross-sectional study. Indoor Air. 2009; 19(2):174-82. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2008.00577.x. View

13.

Lumbiganon P, Laopaiboon M, Gulmezoglu A, Souza J, Taneepanichskul S, Ruyan P . Method of delivery and pregnancy outcomes in Asia: the WHO global survey on maternal and perinatal health 2007-08. Lancet. 2010; 375(9713):490-9. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61870-5. View

14.

Wickman M, Nordvall S, Pershagen G, Sundell J, Schwartz B . House dust mite sensitization in children and residential characteristics in a temperate region. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1991; 88(1):89-95. DOI: 10.1016/0091-6749(91)90305-8. View

15.

Zhao J, Bai J, Shen K, Xiang L, Huang S, Chen A . Self-reported prevalence of childhood allergic diseases in three cities of China: a multicenter study. BMC Public Health. 2010; 10:551. PMC: 2944377. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-551. View

16.

Choi H, Schmidbauer N, Sundell J, Hasselgren M, Spengler J, Bornehag C . Common household chemicals and the allergy risks in pre-school age children. PLoS One. 2010; 5(10):e13423. PMC: 2956675. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013423. View

17.

Larsson M, Hagerhed-Engman L, Kolarik B, James P, Lundin F, Janson S . PVC--as flooring material--and its association with incident asthma in a Swedish child cohort study. Indoor Air. 2010; 20(6):494-501. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00671.x. View

18.

Sun Y, Sundell J . Life style and home environment are associated with racial disparities of asthma and allergy in Northeast Texas children. Sci Total Environ. 2011; 409(20):4229-34. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.07.011. View

19.

Hsu N, Lee C, Wang J, Li Y, Chang H, Chen C . Predicted risk of childhood allergy, asthma, and reported symptoms using measured phthalate exposure in dust and urine. Indoor Air. 2011; 22(3):186-99. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2011.00753.x. View

20.

Clausen G, Host A, Toftum J, Beko G, Weschler C, Callesen M . Children's health and its association with indoor environments in Danish homes and daycare centres - methods. Indoor Air. 2012; 22(6):467-75. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2012.00777.x. View