© 2004 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
ECHO
Exposure to volatile organic compounds found to be important in the cause of childhood asthma
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
The role of indoor air quality in the aetiology of asthma has again come under scrutiny in a case-control study from Perth, Western Australia. Children who had received emergency treatment for asthma were found to have been exposed to significantly higher concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at home than community controls.
VOCs found in the home include solvents, floor adhesives, paint, cleaning products, furnishings, polishes, and room fresheners. Measurements of VOCs in the homes of 88 cases were made within two weeks of their emergency hospital visit in winter and again in summer. The homes of 104 controls were monitored during the same periods of time. The highest median concentrations were for benzene, followed by toluene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene. In the present study, the concentrations of total VOCs were low, and below currently accepted recommendations.
After controlling for potential confounding variables, children exposed to VOCs of >60µg/m3 (median level of
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