The relationship between air pollution and asthma in Malaysian schoolchildren
Rapid increases in traffic volumes in countries such as Malaysia may lead to exposure to poor air quality both outdoors and indoors. This study investigated asthma symptoms among Malaysian schoolchildren in relation to indoor and outdoor air pollution in urban and semi-rural settings in a school-bas...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2014
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35790/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35790/1/The%20relationship%20between%20air%20pollution%20and%20asthma%20in%20Malaysian%20schoolchildren.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848848152274141184 |
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| author | Zainal Abidin, Emilia Semple, Sean Rasdi, Irniza Syed Ismail, Sharifah Norkhadijah Ayres, Jon G. |
| author_facet | Zainal Abidin, Emilia Semple, Sean Rasdi, Irniza Syed Ismail, Sharifah Norkhadijah Ayres, Jon G. |
| author_sort | Zainal Abidin, Emilia |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Rapid increases in traffic volumes in countries such as Malaysia may lead to exposure to poor air quality both outdoors and indoors. This study investigated asthma symptoms among Malaysian schoolchildren in relation to indoor and outdoor air pollution in urban and semi-rural settings in a school-based cross-sectional study of 1,952 schoolchildren living in urban and semi-rural areas. Parents completed a questionnaire including questions on asthma symptoms and environmental risk factors. Air pollutant concentrations were measured at 16 schools. Analysis used multiple logistic regression controlling for sociodemographic and indoor air pollution factors. A total of 11.4, 7.6, 9.5 and 7.0 % schoolchildren had asthma, current wheeze, dry cough at night and wheezing after exercise, respectively. Asthma and dry cough were significantly higher among urban schoolchildren. A 10-μg/m3 increase in outdoor NO2 level was associated with a twofold increase in the reporting of current wheeze (odds ratio (OR) 1.90; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.02–3.52); a 10-μg/m3 increase in indoor PM2.5 was similarly associated with a twofold increase in the reporting of wheeze during exercise (OR 2.08; 95 % CI 1.02–4.26). Secondhand smoke (SHS), mold and the presence of new furniture at home were also linked to asthma symptoms. NO2 concentrations in urban Malaysia frequently exceed those of the international standards. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution may be linked to asthma symptoms among children in Malaysia. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T09:29:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-35790 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T09:29:57Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | Springer |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-357902016-11-03T07:44:38Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35790/ The relationship between air pollution and asthma in Malaysian schoolchildren Zainal Abidin, Emilia Semple, Sean Rasdi, Irniza Syed Ismail, Sharifah Norkhadijah Ayres, Jon G. Rapid increases in traffic volumes in countries such as Malaysia may lead to exposure to poor air quality both outdoors and indoors. This study investigated asthma symptoms among Malaysian schoolchildren in relation to indoor and outdoor air pollution in urban and semi-rural settings in a school-based cross-sectional study of 1,952 schoolchildren living in urban and semi-rural areas. Parents completed a questionnaire including questions on asthma symptoms and environmental risk factors. Air pollutant concentrations were measured at 16 schools. Analysis used multiple logistic regression controlling for sociodemographic and indoor air pollution factors. A total of 11.4, 7.6, 9.5 and 7.0 % schoolchildren had asthma, current wheeze, dry cough at night and wheezing after exercise, respectively. Asthma and dry cough were significantly higher among urban schoolchildren. A 10-μg/m3 increase in outdoor NO2 level was associated with a twofold increase in the reporting of current wheeze (odds ratio (OR) 1.90; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.02–3.52); a 10-μg/m3 increase in indoor PM2.5 was similarly associated with a twofold increase in the reporting of wheeze during exercise (OR 2.08; 95 % CI 1.02–4.26). Secondhand smoke (SHS), mold and the presence of new furniture at home were also linked to asthma symptoms. NO2 concentrations in urban Malaysia frequently exceed those of the international standards. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution may be linked to asthma symptoms among children in Malaysia. Springer 2014-12 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35790/1/The%20relationship%20between%20air%20pollution%20and%20asthma%20in%20Malaysian%20schoolchildren.pdf Zainal Abidin, Emilia and Semple, Sean and Rasdi, Irniza and Syed Ismail, Sharifah Norkhadijah and Ayres, Jon G. (2014) The relationship between air pollution and asthma in Malaysian schoolchildren. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 7 (4). pp. 421-432. ISSN 1873-9318; ESSN: 1873-9326 http://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-014-0252-0?view=classic 10.1007/s11869-014-0252-0 |
| spellingShingle | Zainal Abidin, Emilia Semple, Sean Rasdi, Irniza Syed Ismail, Sharifah Norkhadijah Ayres, Jon G. The relationship between air pollution and asthma in Malaysian schoolchildren |
| title | The relationship between air pollution and asthma in Malaysian schoolchildren |
| title_full | The relationship between air pollution and asthma in Malaysian schoolchildren |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between air pollution and asthma in Malaysian schoolchildren |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between air pollution and asthma in Malaysian schoolchildren |
| title_short | The relationship between air pollution and asthma in Malaysian schoolchildren |
| title_sort | relationship between air pollution and asthma in malaysian schoolchildren |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35790/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35790/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35790/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35790/1/The%20relationship%20between%20air%20pollution%20and%20asthma%20in%20Malaysian%20schoolchildren.pdf |