Effect of indoor air quality on the development of rhinitis in an urban population in Poland.

Background

Indoor air significantly impacts the incidence of rhinitis among residents of urban agglomerations.

Objective

To assess the impact of indoor air pollution on rhinitis.

Methods

Data were collected by using an European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) and International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) standardized questionnaires (N = 18,617), and medical examinations were carried out (N = 4783) in selected Polish regions. For statistical analysis, the odds ratio (OR) was calculated with a 95% confidence interval to detect factors associated with rhinitis. The Wald test was performed to assess the significance of those factors. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The most important factors associated with allergic rhinitis declared by adults, ages 20‐44 years were the following: the age of the buildings (OR 1.34), presence of central heating system (OR 1.19), gas furnace used to heat the house (OR 1.19), solid-fuel stove (OR 1.92), and bottled-gas stove (OR 1.66). More frequent declarations of nonallergic rhinitis in the study group were associated with the use of a central heating system (children ages 6‐7 years: OR 1.21; children ages 13‐14 years: OR 1.22; and adults, ages 20‐44 years: OR 1.27), solid-fuel stove (children ages 6‐7 years: OR 2.95; children ages 13‐14 years: OR 2.86; adults, ages 20‐44 years: OR 2.02), and bottled-gas stove (children ages 6‐7 years: OR 1.89; children ages 13‐14 years: OR 1.88; adults, ages 20‐44 years: OR 2.06). Diagnosed seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults, ages 20‐44 years was associated with the year when the building was constructed (1970‐1990) (OR 1.93) and the presence of a central heating system (OR 1.85). The year of construction of a building (1946‐1969) (OR 4.84) as well as the use of central heating (OR 1.79) were causes of allergies to molds in the group of children ages 6‐7 years, whereas sensitization to Dermatophagoides. pteronyssinus (OR 1.62) and Dermatophagoides farinae (OR 1.78) in children ages 6‐7-years was associated with the presence of a central heating system. In children ages 13‐14 years, the use of a solid-fuel stove was a cause of sensitization to D. farinae (OR 1.62).

Conclusion

The age of the building, home heating systems, and pollution emitted by cooking appliances have a significant impact on the incidence of rhinitis. The highlights of the study included the following: (1) the age and condition of the building, the use of heating devices, stoves, and also mold allergens and house-dust mites contributed to a higher incidence of rhinitis, mainly among adults, ages 20‐44 years; (2) gas-storage tanks and solid fuels contribute to rhinitis in the group of children ages 6‐7 years and children ages 13‐14 years.