The Effect of Residential Environment on Respiratory Diseases and Pulmonary Function in Children from a Community in Jilin Province of China

Purpose: Respiratory disease is a major and increasingly global epidemic that has a great impact on humans, especially children. The purpose of this study was to identify environmental risk factors for respiratory diseases and pulmonary function in children. Patients and Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional survey of respiratory diseases and environmental risk factors was conducted in Jilin Province, China. Complete question-naire information was available for 2419 children, while adequate pulmonary function data were available for a subgroup of 627 children. Results: Our study found that environmental risk factors for respiratory health in children were mainly concentrated indoors. After adjusting for demographic factors, insecticide exposure and passive smoking were risk factors for respiratory disease and industrial pollutant sources, insecticide exposure and the use of a fume exhauster may be independent risk factors for recurrent respiratory infections. The main fuel for cooking in the winter and passive smoking were the main influencing factors of pulmonary function indicators. Conclusion: The primary risk factors differ in different respiratory diseases. Passive smoking remains a critical adverse factor for respiratory illness and pulmonary function in children, and it is important to reduce children's exposure to passive smoking to increase pulmonary health. Insecticide exposure may be a neglected environmental risk factor, and further investigations are still needed to explore the relationship and mechanisms between insecticide exposure and children's respiratory health.

Automated summary

This study identified environmental risk factors for respiratory diseases and pulmonary function in children. Indoor factors such as insecticide exposure and passive smoking were found to be associated with respiratory health and industrial pollutant sources, insecticide exposure, and use of a fume exhauster may be independent risk factors for recurrent respiratory infections. Additionally, the main fuel for cooking in winter and passive smoking were major influencing factors on pulmonary function indicators. In conclusion, passive smoking remains a critical factor for respiratory illness and pulmonary function in children, while insecticide exposure may be a neglected environmental risk factor that requires further investigation.