Respiratory Health among Korean Pupils in Relation to Home, School and Outdoor Environment

摘要

There are few studies about school-environment in relation to pupils' respiratory health, and Korean school-environment has not been characterized. All pupils in 4th grade in 12 selected schools in three urban cities in Korea received a questionnaire (n = 2,453), 96% participated. Gaseous pollutants and ultrafine particles (UFPs) were measured indoors (n = 34) and outdoors (n = 12) during winter, 2004. Indoor dampness at home was investigated by the questionnaire. To evaluate associations between respiratory health and environment, multiple logistic- and multi-level regression models were applied adjusting for potential confounders. The mean age of pupils was 10 yr and 49% were boys. No school had mechanical ventilation and CO₂-levels exceeded 1,000 ppm in all except one of the classrooms. The indoor mean concentrations of SO₂, NO₂, O₃ and formaldehyde were 0.6 μg/m3, 19 μg/m3, 8 μg/m3 and 28 μg/m3, respectively. The average level of UFPs was 18,230 pt/cm3 in the classrooms and 16,480 pt/cm3 outdoors. There were positive associations between wheeze and outdoor NO₂, and between current asthma and outdoor UFPs. With dampness at home, pupils had more wheeze. In conclusion, outdoor UFPs and even low levels of NO₂ may adversely contribute to respiratory health in children. High CO₂-levels in classrooms and indoor dampness/mold at home should be reduced.