Environmental Air Pollutants as Risk Factors for Asthma Among Children Seen in Pediatric Clinics in UKMMC, Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

The prevalence of asthma is increasing, especially among children in Malaysia, with environmental factors as one of the main preventable contributors. The aim of this study was to determine the association between environmental air pollutants and the occurrence of asthma among children seen in pediatric clinics in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center (UKMMC), Kuala Lumpur. An unmatched case control study among children who attended the pediatric clinic was carried out from May to August 2015. A total of 223 children who were diagnosed with asthma (105 cases) and who did not have asthma (118 controls) were included in this study. Their parents or caregivers were interviewed using questionnaires modified from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS software version 20. There was a higher risk of asthma in those who had carpet at home (OR = 2.15 CI [1.25-3.68]), those who lived within 200 m of heavy traffic (OR = 1.72 CI [1.01-2.93]), and those who were exposed to lorry fumes (OR = 2.61. CI [1.38-4.93]). Environmental air pollutants increased the risk of asthma among children in Malaysia. Exposure to congested roads, lorry fumes, and indoor carpet were associated with asthma among children in this study. Parents or caretakers of children with asthma should be given adequate education on the prevention of asthmatic attack among these children.

Multiobjective grammar-based genetic programming applied to the study of asthma and allergy epidemiology

“…Such temporal trends occurring over a relatively short period of time are unlikely to be explained by changes in genetic susceptibility and are most likely explained by changes in environmental exposures such as those associated with the adoption of a modern or “westernized” lifestyle [ 18 ]. There are many studies showing different factors related to these disorders such as environmental factors [ 19 , 20 ], socioeconomic [ 20 , 21 ], infections [ 22 – 25 ], nutritional [ 26 , 27 ], psychosocial [ 28 , 29 ] and genetic [ 30 , 31 ]. Recently, evidence has emerged to suggest that asthma causation may involve interactions between different exposures [ 30 , 32 ].…”

Risk factors for bronchial asthma among children in Medina city, Saudi Arabia: an ecological approach

“…16 Children had the highest risk of exposure to outdoor environmental pollution because they spent most of their time playing outside their homes. 17 Besides, children, who lived near to traffic road they exposed to particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and had a higher probability of developing asthma. 18 The presence of carpet in the home increases the risk of asthma to the double (OR=2.06, 95% CI=1.19-3.58).…”

“…18 The presence of carpet in the home increases the risk of asthma to the double (OR=2.06, 95% CI=1.19-3.58). 17 Different factors are associated with asthma aggravation. Tobacco smoke, incense, sandstorm, and seasonal variation are all known to exaggerate childhood asthma.…”

Characteristics of Particulate Pollution (PM2.5 and PM10) and Their Spacescale-Dependent Relationships with Meteorological Elements in China

“…PM 10 denotes particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 µm or less, and PM 2.5 denotes those with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less. High concentrations of air particulates can have environmental impacts, such as degraded atmospheric visibility, and human impacts, such as acute or chronic respiratory diseases [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Between 1990 and 2005, global population-weighted PM 2.5 increased by 6%, with noted increases in Asia [16].…”