Plastic wall materials in the home and respiratory health in young children.

OBJECTIVES

The relation between the presence of plastic wall materials in the home and respiratory health in children was assessed.

METHODS

This population-based cross-sectional study involved 2568 Finnish children aged 1 to 7 years.

RESULTS

In logistic regression models, lower respiratory tract symptoms--persistent wheezing (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13, 10.36), cough (OR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.04, 5.63), and phlegm (OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.03, 7.41)--were strongly related to the presence of plastic wall materials, whereas upper respiratory symptoms were not. The risk of asthma (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 0.35, 6.71) and pneumonia (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 0.62, 5.29) was also increased in children exposed to such materials.

CONCLUSIONS

Emissions from plastic materials indoors may have adverse effects on the lower respiratory tracts of small children.