The association between indoor air quality and respiratory health symptoms among preschool children in Penang, Malaysia
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 126 preschool children aged 4–6 years in traffic, industrial, and suburban areas of Penang, Malaysia, to determine their exposure to indoor air pollutants and their associations with respiratory symptoms. A standardised and validated questionnaire was used...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
Taylor and Francis
2024
|
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115339/ |
| _version_ | 1848866751238897664 |
|---|---|
| author | Azam, Nur Syazura Akmal Jalaludin, Juliana Suhaimi, Nur Faseeha |
| author_facet | Azam, Nur Syazura Akmal Jalaludin, Juliana Suhaimi, Nur Faseeha |
| author_sort | Azam, Nur Syazura Akmal |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | A cross-sectional study was conducted among 126 preschool children aged 4–6 years in traffic, industrial, and suburban areas of Penang, Malaysia, to determine their exposure to indoor air pollutants and their associations with respiratory symptoms. A standardised and validated questionnaire was used to collect data on respiratory health symptoms among respondents. An indoor air quality assessment was conducted in selected preschools that included temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (PM2.5, and PM10). There were significant differences in median concentrations of PM2.5, PM10 and relative humidity among study groups. Statistical analysis showed significant associations between air pollutants in preschool with respiratory symptoms. Factors that influenced the increased likelihood of cough and phlegm were linked to the increase in PM2.5 exposure. This study suggests regular classroom cleaning and routine maintenance of air conditioners to be done inside the preschools. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:25:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-115339 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:25:35Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Taylor and Francis |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-1153392025-03-03T07:16:02Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115339/ The association between indoor air quality and respiratory health symptoms among preschool children in Penang, Malaysia Azam, Nur Syazura Akmal Jalaludin, Juliana Suhaimi, Nur Faseeha A cross-sectional study was conducted among 126 preschool children aged 4–6 years in traffic, industrial, and suburban areas of Penang, Malaysia, to determine their exposure to indoor air pollutants and their associations with respiratory symptoms. A standardised and validated questionnaire was used to collect data on respiratory health symptoms among respondents. An indoor air quality assessment was conducted in selected preschools that included temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (PM2.5, and PM10). There were significant differences in median concentrations of PM2.5, PM10 and relative humidity among study groups. Statistical analysis showed significant associations between air pollutants in preschool with respiratory symptoms. Factors that influenced the increased likelihood of cough and phlegm were linked to the increase in PM2.5 exposure. This study suggests regular classroom cleaning and routine maintenance of air conditioners to be done inside the preschools. Taylor and Francis 2024-06-11 Article PeerReviewed Azam, Nur Syazura Akmal and Jalaludin, Juliana and Suhaimi, Nur Faseeha (2024) The association between indoor air quality and respiratory health symptoms among preschool children in Penang, Malaysia. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 35 (3). pp. 606-619. ISSN 0960-3123; eISSN: 1369-1619 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09603123.2024.2365308 10.1080/09603123.2024.2365308 |
| spellingShingle | Azam, Nur Syazura Akmal Jalaludin, Juliana Suhaimi, Nur Faseeha The association between indoor air quality and respiratory health symptoms among preschool children in Penang, Malaysia |
| title | The association between indoor air quality and respiratory health symptoms among preschool children in Penang, Malaysia |
| title_full | The association between indoor air quality and respiratory health symptoms among preschool children in Penang, Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | The association between indoor air quality and respiratory health symptoms among preschool children in Penang, Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | The association between indoor air quality and respiratory health symptoms among preschool children in Penang, Malaysia |
| title_short | The association between indoor air quality and respiratory health symptoms among preschool children in Penang, Malaysia |
| title_sort | association between indoor air quality and respiratory health symptoms among preschool children in penang, malaysia |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115339/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115339/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115339/ |