Associations between Housing Factors and Respiratory Symptoms in Two Saskatchewan First Nations Communities

Inadequate housing is commonplace in First Nations in Canada, often leading to environmental impacts on housing such as dampness and mold. First Nations communities suffer from a higher prevalence of respiratory-related health conditions than the general Canadian population. There is limited Canadian literature evaluating the relationship between housing factors and the respiratory health of adults within First Nations communities. This study was undertaken with two Saskatchewan First Nations communities. The study population consisted of 293 individuals within 131 households. The individuals completed questionnaires on their general and respiratory health, and one member of each household completed a household questionnaire. The collection of environmental samples from within the house was undertaken. The respiratory outcomes of interest focused on the individuals with ever wheeze, reported by 77.8% of the individuals, and shortness of breath, reported by 52.6% of the individuals. Body mass index, the nontraditional use of tobacco (i.e., current and ex-smoking), the nontraditional use of tobacco in the house (i.e., smoking in the house), dampness in the house in the last 12 months, and always having a smell of mold in the house were significantly associated with respiratory symptoms. The results reveal that respiratory symptom rates were high in the population and housing factors were significantly associated with respiratory symptoms. Addressing and redressing housing inadequacies in First Nations communities are important in preventing additional burdens to health.

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Primary Cooking Fuel Choice and Respiratory Health Outcomes among Women in Charge of Household Cooking in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16061040 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 1040 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Adama Sana ◽

Nicolas Meda ◽

Gisèle Badoum ◽

Benoit Kafando ◽

Catherine Bouland

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Biomass Fuel ◽

Respiratory Morbidity ◽

Shortness Of Breath ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cooking Fuel ◽

Breathing Difficulty ◽

Sputum Production ◽

Waking Up

Background: Approximately 3 billion people, worldwide, rely primarily on biomass for cooking. This study aimed to investigate the association between respiratory symptoms among women in charge of household cooking and the type of fuel used for cooking. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted. A total of 1705 women that were randomly selected, completed the survey. We also performed a bivariate and a multivariate analysis to verify the possible associations between respiratory symptoms in women in charge of household cooking and the type of cooking fuel used. Results: Dry cough, breathing difficulties, and throat irritation frequencies were statistically high in biomass fuel users when compared to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) users. It was also the case for some chronic respiratory symptoms, such as sputum production, shortness of breath, wheezing, wheezing with dyspnea, wheezing without a cold, waking up with shortness of breath, waking up with coughing attacks, and waking up with breathing difficulty. After adjustment for the respondents’ and households’ characteristics; dry cough, breathing difficulties, sneezing, nose tingling, throat irritation, chronic sputum production, wheezing, wheezing with dyspnea, wheezing without a cold, waking up with shortness of breath, waking up with coughing attacks, and waking up with breathing difficulty were symptoms that remained associated to biomass fuel compared to LPG. Women who used charcoal reported the highest proportion of all the chronic respiratory symptoms compared to the firewood users. However, this difference was not statistically significant except for the wheezing, waking up with coughing attacks, and waking up with breath difficulty, after adjustment. Conclusion: Exposure to biomass smoke is responsible for respiratory health problems in women. Charcoal, which is often considered as a clean fuel compared to other biomass fuels and often recommended as an alternative to firewood, also presents health risks, including increased respiratory morbidity in women. Effective and efficient energy policies are needed to accelerate the transition to clean and sustainable energies.

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Reduced Lung Function among Workers in Primary Coffee Processing Factories in Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15112415 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. 2415 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Samson Abaya ◽

Magne Bråtveit ◽

Wakgari Deressa ◽

Abera Kumie ◽

Bente Moen

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Age Groups ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Dust Exposure ◽

Control Group ◽

Shortness Of Breath ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Work Related

Dust exposure is one of the major risk factors for respiratory health in many workplaces, including coffee factories. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lung function reduction among workers in Ethiopian primary coffee processing factories, compared to a control group of workers. A total of 115 coffee workers and 110 water bottling workers were involved in this study, from 12 coffee and 3 water bottling factories in Ethiopia, respectively. The chronic respiratory symptoms were assessed using a structured interview, using a standardized questionnaire adopted from the American Thoracic Society (ATS). The lung function tests were performed according to the ATS recommendation for spirometry. The coffee workers had a significantly higher prevalence of coughing, coughing with sputum, breathlessness, work-related shortness of breath, and wheezing compared with the controls. The prevalence ratio of work-related shortness of breath (PR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.6–8.7) and wheezing (PR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.3–8.4) was significantly higher for the coffee workers compared to the controls. The coffee workers in the age groups 28–39 years and ≥40 years, had a significantly lower forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s compared to the controls in the similar age groups. The findings indicated the need for longitudinal studies on the possible effect of coffee dust on respiratory health of coffee production workers.

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Does Moxa Smoke Have Significant Effect on the Acupuncturist’s Respiratory System? A Population-Based Study

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2019/4873235 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Chang Yu ◽

Ning Zhang ◽

Weikang Zhu ◽

Yueyue Zhang ◽

Jiao Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Regression Model ◽

Exposure Time ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Smoke Exposure ◽

Shortness Of Breath ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Airway Function

Objectives. To evaluate the safety of moxa smoke, especially to provide quantitative information and details for the occupational prevention of acupuncturists. Methods. We combined the questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey and lung function testing-based historical retrospective cohort research to investigate the safety of moxa smoke exposure (MSE) among acupuncturists. A mathematical regression model was established to quantitatively evaluate the relationship between moxa smoke exposure and the respiratory health of the acupuncturist. The smoke exposure time of the acupuncturist and the prevalence of abnormal respiratory symptoms or diseases were also evaluated. Results. (1) The cross-sectional research showed that the incidence of expectoration (18.7%) and rhinitis (22.7%) was the most common respiratory symptom and disease after MSE. No statistical difference was found between smoke exposure time of the acupuncturist and the prevalence of abnormal respiratory symptoms or diseases, except the prevalence of rhinitis and shortness of breath (P<0.01). Regression model for the incidence of first three symptoms (expectoration, shortness of breath, and wheezing) from the cross-sectional survey indicated that the weight coefficients of factors associated with moxa smoke were lower than those of factors unrelated to moxa smoke, such as gender and personal history of respiratory diseases. (2) Historical retrospective cohort research showed that there was no significant difference in the % predicted PEF. No statistic difference was found between the exposed and nonexposed group in large airway function indexes (% predicted FEV1, % predicted FVC, and % predicted FEV1/FVC) and small airway function indexes (% predicted FEF25, % predicted FEF50, % predicted FEF75, and % predicted MMEF), either. Especially, the % predicted MVV among males (106.23 ± 2.92 vs. 95.56 ± 1.92, P<0.01 and % predicted VC among females (100.70 ± 1.59 vs. 95.91 ± 1.61, P<0.05) between the two groups had statistical significance, but did not cause pulmonary ventilation dysfunction. Conclusions. MSE has no significant effect on the respiratory health of acupuncturists.

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Respiratory Symptoms due to Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde and MDF Dust in a MDF Furniture Factory in Eastern Thailand

Advances in Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1155/2016/3705824 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anamai Thetkathuek ◽

Tanongsak Yingratanasuk ◽

Wiwat Ekburanawat

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Medium Density Fiberboard ◽

Average Concentration ◽

Dust Exposure ◽

Allergic Symptoms ◽

Study Population ◽

High Concentrations ◽

High Level ◽

Furniture Factory

The study aimed to investigate factors associated with respiratory symptoms in workers in a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) furniture factory in Eastern Thailand. Data were collected from 439 employees exposed to formaldehyde and MDF dust using questionnaire and personal sampler (Institute of Occupational Medicine; IOM). The average concentration of formaldehyde from MDF dust was 2.62 ppm (SD 367), whereas the average concentration of MDF dust itself was 7.67 mg/m3 (SD 3.63). Atopic allergic history was a factor associated with respiratory irritation symptoms and allergic symptoms among the workers exposed to formaldehyde and were associated with respiratory irritation symptoms and allergic symptoms among those exposed to MDF dust. Exposure to MDF dust at high level (>5 mg/m3) was associated with respiratory irritation symptoms and allergic symptoms. Excluding allergic workers from the study population produced the same kind of results in the analysis as in all workers. The symptoms were associated with the high concentrations of formaldehyde and MDF dust in this factory. If the concentration of MDF dust was >5 mg/m3, the risk of irritation and allergic symptoms in the respiratory system increased. The respiratory health of the employees with atopic allergic history exposed to formaldehyde and MDF dust should be monitored closely.

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Predictors of Respiratory Symptoms in a Rural Canadian Population: A Longitudinal Study of Respiratory Health

Canadian Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1155/2011/838703 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 149-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Chandima P Karunanayake ◽

Donna C Rennie ◽

Punam Pahwa ◽

Yue Chen ◽

James A Dosman

Keyword(s):

Rural Community ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Early Predictors ◽

Canadian Population ◽

Respiratory Outcome ◽

History Of ◽

Asymptomatic Individuals

BACKGROUND: Predictors of new and long-term respiratory symptoms for rural residents are not well defined.OBJECTIVE: To identify early predictors of respiratory symptoms in a rural community population.METHODS: The study population consisted of 871 adults living in the rural community of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, who participated in two cross-sectional respiratory studies conducted in 1993 and 2003. Questionnaire information obtained at both time points included respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm and wheeze), history of allergy, smoking, and information regarding home and farm environments. Transitional modelling, in which measurement in a longitudinal sequence is described as a function of previous outcomes, was used to predict later outcomes of cough, phlegm and wheeze. Asymptomatic individuals in 1993 were assessed to determine factors associated with the development of symptoms during the study period.RESULTS: The prevalences of cough, phlegm and wheeze in 1993 were 16.1%, 18.1% and 25.5%, respectively. Change in symptoms over time was significant for cough, phlegm and wheeze. The adjusted ORs (95% CI) from separate transitional models for each respiratory outcome in 1993 that predicted the same symptom in 2003 were 6.32 (4.02 to 9.95) for cough, 14.36 (9.01 to 22.89) for phlegm and 6.40 (4.40 to 9.32) for wheeze. For asymptomatic individuals in 1993, home dampness, allergic reaction to inhaled allergens and cigarette smoking were major risk factors associated with respiratory symptoms that were reported in 2003.CONCLUSION: The presence of previous respiratory symptoms, allergies and environmental exposures can predict the occurrence of future respiratory symptoms in adults.

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Influence of Living Arrangements on the Psychological Health of Older Women in Slums

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000277 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anushka Ghosh ◽

Susmita Mukhopadhyay

Keyword(s):

Older Women ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Emotional Support ◽

Living Arrangements ◽

Significant Contribution ◽

Educational Status ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Socioeconomic Conditions ◽

Study Population ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. This study investigates the relationship between living arrangements and the psychological health of older women. It includes a total of 252 women aged 60+ years living in the slums of Kolkata, India. The results reveal that psychological impairments were highly prevalent in the study population. The pattern of living arrangements was found to affect psychological health conditions. Women living with distant relatives were found to be more psychologically distressed than their counterparts. Furthermore, emotional support showed significant contribution on psychological health status even after adjusting for the effect of living arrangements. Age and educational status were the most significant of the other concomitants. Overall, this study suggests that the combined effect of socioeconomic conditions, social support along with changing living arrangements may lead to observed psychological impairments.

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Respiratory Symptoms and Urinary Cotinine Levels in Pre-school Children Exposed to Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2020.587193 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Yun Wang ◽

Zhiqiang Huang ◽

Dan Luo ◽

Lang Tian ◽

Mi Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Tobacco Smoke ◽

Tobacco Smoke ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Central China ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Respiratory Illnesses ◽

Urinary Cotinine ◽

The Relationship

Objective: Preschool children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) are at risk of developing adverse respiratory health effects. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the effects of cigarette-smoking caregivers on respiratory symptoms and urinary cotinine (UC) levels in children.Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of 543 children (aged between 5 and 6 years) from 5 kindergartens in central China was conducted using a structured questionnaire. We also analyzed UC levels to investigate the relationship between respiratory symptoms and ETS exposure. We further performed logistic regression analyses to establish the relationship between respiratory symptoms (coughing, rhinorrhea, and sneezing) and UC levels.Results: A total of 71 (13.08%) children had a history of hospital admission with respiratory illnesses including bronchitis and pneumonia over the last 6 months. In addition, 102 (18.78%) children presented coughing symptoms, 114 (20.99%) experienced rhinorrhea and 79 (14.55%) presented sneezing symptoms over the last 6 months. After adjusting the confounders, odds ratio (OR) indicated that the number of cigarettes smoked by a caregiver was associated with coughing (OR = 11.02; 95% CI, 3.72–33.66), rhinorrhea (OR = 41.83; 95% CI, 5.58–313.05) and sneezing (OR = 4.71; 95% CI, 1.33–16.48). Furthermore, UC levels in children with coughing, rhinorrhea and sneezing were significantly higher than in children without respiratory symptoms (P = 0.002, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively).Conclusions: This study reveals that children exposed to ETS have higher levels of UC. Compared with caregiver who non-smoked live with children, smoked cigarettes were highly risk of developing respiratory illnesses in children. Notably, the higher the UC levels the greater the respiratory risk. Our results also signify that UC can be used as an indicator of ETS exposure to inform caregivers of the associated risks, and inform efforts to reduce related effects.

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O2A.1 Pesticides and work-related asthma: how this relates to self-reported exposures

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oem-2019-epi.33 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A12.3-A13

Author(s):

David Fishwick ◽

Anne-Helen Harding ◽

David Fox ◽

Yiqun Chen ◽

Neil Pearce ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pesticide Exposure ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Health Study ◽

Physical Work ◽

Work Related ◽

Adverse Health Outcomes ◽

Physical Work Environment ◽

Study Population ◽

Pesticide Applicators ◽

The Relationship

Pesticide exposure has been linked to a number of potentially adverse health outcomes, including asthma. We were interested to explore the relationship between asthma and pesticide use, particularly from the perspective of self-reported work-related asthma.Using the existing UK PIPAH (Prospective Investigation of Pesticide Applicators’ Health) study population, we administered a respiratory questionnaire to 4814 current and past pesticide users. Participants were asked about doctor-diagnosed and self-reported asthma symptoms, and, if present, their views about the cause of work-related asthma (asthma reported to be worse at work).Of the 2562 respondents (53% response) with a median age of 60.2 years, 97.4% were male and 34.1% ever smoked. The prevalence of ever being doctor diagnosed asthma was 11.4% (n=292), and 123 of these (42.1% of those with asthma) reported that their asthma was caused, or made worse, by their work. 17.8% reported wheeze in the last 12 months.Grouping relevant exposures, 117 of the 123 participants reported in decreasing order of proportion, the following agents as being responsible for worsening of their asthma; organic dusts (n=73, 59%), unspecified dust (n=12, 10%), mixed exposures (n=12, 10%), any mention of chemical (n=9, 7%), physical work environment, e.g. temperature, exercise (n=7, 6%), other, e.g. irritant, fumes (n=4, 3%).This large study of pesticide applicators has confirmed a prevalence of 11.4% for doctor-diagnosed asthma. Self-reported exposures thought by workers to aggravate their asthma were predominantly organic in nature, although a smaller proportion identified chemicals as aggravants. Workplace based preventative strategies in this sector should address all potential inhaled hazards and their associated risks to respiratory health.

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9/11 Residential Exposures: The Impact of World Trade Center Dust on Respiratory Outcomes of Lower Manhattan Residents

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16050798 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. 798 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vinicius Antao ◽

L. Pallos ◽

Shannon Graham ◽

Youn Shim ◽

James Sapp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Cough ◽

World Trade ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

World Trade Center ◽

Shortness Of Breath ◽

Lower Manhattan ◽

Trade Center ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Respiratory Outcomes ◽

Upper Respiratory Symptoms

Thousands of lower Manhattan residents sustained damage to their homes following the collapse of the Twin Towers on 11 September 2001. Respiratory outcomes have been reported in this population. We sought to describe patterns of home damage and cleaning practices in lower Manhattan and their impacts on respiratory outcomes among World Trade Center Health Registry (WTCHR) respondents. Data were derived from WTCHR Wave 1 (W1) (9/2003–11/2004) and Wave 2 (W2) (11/2006–12/2007) surveys. Outcomes of interest were respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath (SoB), wheezing, persistent chronic cough, upper respiratory symptoms (URS)) first occurring or worsening after 9/11 W1 and still present at W2 and respiratory diseases (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) first diagnosed after 9/11 W1 and present at W2. We performed descriptive statistics, multivariate logistic regression and geospatial analyses, controlling for demographics and other exposure variables. A total of 6447 residents were included. Mean age on 9/11 was 45.1 years (±15.1 years), 42% were male, 45% had ever smoked cigarettes, and 44% reported some or intense dust cloud exposure on 9/11. The presence of debris was associated with chronic cough (adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.56, CI: 1.12–2.17), and upper respiratory symptoms (aOR = 1.56, CI: 1.24–1.95). A heavy coating of dust was associated with increased shortness of breath (aOR = 1.65, CI: 1.24–2.18), wheezing (aOR = 1.43, CI: 1.03–1.97), and chronic cough (aOR = 1.59, CI: 1.09–2.28). Dusting or sweeping without water was the cleaning behavior associated with the largest number of respiratory outcomes, such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and URS. Lower Manhattan residents who suffered home damage following the 9/11 attacks were more likely to report respiratory symptoms and diseases compared to those who did not report home damage.

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Secondhand nicotine vaping at home and respiratory symptoms in young adults

Thorax ◽

10.1136/thoraxjnl-2021-217041 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. thoraxjnl-2021-217041

Author(s):

Talat Islam ◽

Jessica Braymiller ◽

Sandrah P Eckel ◽

Feifei Liu ◽

Alayna P Tackett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Parental Education ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Health Study ◽

Study Cohort ◽

Shortness Of Breath ◽

Mixed Effect ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Study Participants

RationaleDespite high prevalence of e-cigarette use (vaping), little is currently known regarding the health effects of secondhand nicotine vape exposure.ObjectiveTo investigate whether exposure to secondhand nicotine vape exposure is associated with adverse respiratory health symptoms among young adults.MethodWe investigated the effect of secondhand nicotine vape exposure on annually reported wheeze, bronchitic symptoms and shortness of breath in the prospective Southern California Children Health Study cohort. Data were collected from study participants (n=2097) with repeated annual surveys from 2014 (average age: 17.3 years) to 2019 (average age: 21.9). We used mixed effect logistic regression to evaluate the association between secondhand nicotine vape and respiratory symptoms after controlling for relevant confounders.ResultsPrevalence of secondhand nicotine vape increased from 11.7% to 15.6% during the study period in this population. Prevalence of wheeze, bronchitic symptoms and shortness of breath ranged from 12.3% to 14.9%, 19.4% to 26.0% and 16.5% to 18.1%, respectively, during the study period. Associations of secondhand nicotine vape exposure with bronchitic symptoms (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.84) and shortness of breath (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.21) were observed after controlling for vaping, active and passive exposure to tobacco or cannabis, and demographic characteristics (age, gender, race/ethnicity and parental education). Stronger associations were observed when analysis was restricted to participants who were neither smokers nor vapers. There were no associations with wheezing after adjustment for confounders.ConclusionSecondhand nicotine vape exposure was associated with increased risk of bronchitic symptoms and shortness of breath among young adults.

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