Impact of Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Home Environment on Asthma and Wheeze in School Children

Purpose :Environmental factors may increase risk for childhood asthma. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and home environment with the development of wheeze and asthma. Methods :We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 969 elementary school students. Data included questions about asthma and wheeze symptoms, exposure to tobacco smoke, and home environment including history of moving into a new house within 1 year of age after birth, use of fragrance at home, recent purchase of new furniture. Logistic regression and Pearson chi statistics were used to estimate these associations. Results :ETS exposure was associated with current wheeze and nocturnal sleep disturbance. Paternal smoking over 20 cigarettes per day was associated with 4 or more episodes of wheeze during the past 1 year. However, there were no significant differences in pulmonary function, serum total IgE levels, blood eosinophil counts, and atopy between children with ETS exposure and nonexposure. Moving into a new house within 1 year of birth was associated with current asthma or wheeze. Use of fragrance at home and purchase of new furniture during the past 1 year were associated with current wheeze, current physician-diagnosed asthma, and nocturnal cough. Conclusion :Exposure to ETS, moving into a new house after birth, and indoor fragrance are risk factors for wheeze and asthma in schoolchildren. [Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis(Korea) 2010;20: 238-246]