Associations of Insecticide Exposure with Childhood Asthma and Wheezing: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Sanya, China

Yabin Hu; Guiyan Yang; Dan Wang; Wangyang Gu; Dan Xie; Tingyue Huang; Peng Xue; Jingyi Tang; Hui Wei; Shenghui Li; Shilu Tong; Shijian Liu

doi:10.3390/toxics12060392

Toxics (May 2024)

Associations of Insecticide Exposure with Childhood Asthma and Wheezing: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Sanya, China

Yabin Hu,
Guiyan Yang,
Dan Wang,
Wangyang Gu,
Dan Xie,
Tingyue Huang,
Peng Xue,
Jingyi Tang,
Hui Wei,
Shenghui Li,
Shilu Tong,
Shijian Liu

Affiliations

Yabin Hu: Hainan Branch, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572022, China
Guiyan Yang: Hainan Branch, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572022, China
Dan Wang: Hainan Branch, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572022, China
Wangyang Gu: Hainan Branch, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572022, China
Dan Xie: Hainan Branch, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572022, China
Tingyue Huang: Hainan Branch, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572022, China
Peng Xue: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
Jingyi Tang: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
Hui Wei: Hainan Branch, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572022, China
Shenghui Li: School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
Shilu Tong: National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Shijian Liu: Hainan Branch, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572022, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12060392
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 6
p. 392

Abstract

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Insecticide exposure may affect childhood asthma/wheezing, but evidence is scarce in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in Sanya, China. Generalized linear models were adopted to assess the associations of insecticide exposure with childhood asthma/wheezing, reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A subgroup analysis was performed to explore the possible effects of sociodemographic and environmental factors on these associations. The median age of the 9754 children was 6.7 years, and 5345 (54.8%) were boys. The prevalences of ever asthma (EA), ever wheezing (EW), and current wheezing (CW) were 7.4%, 5.3%, and 2.9%, respectively. We found a greater prevalence of childhood EA with insecticide exposure (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.38). Outdoor insecticide exposure was associated with elevated ORs for EA (1.24, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.50), EW (1.27, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.57), and CW (1.38, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.81). The p for the trend in insecticide exposure frequency was significant for EA (p = 0.001) and CW (p = 0.034). These adverse impacts were pronounced in girls who were exposed to low temperatures. Our findings suggest adverse effects of insecticide use, especially outdoors, on childhood asthma/wheezing. Further studies are warranted to verify this association and develop tailored prevention measures.

Published in Toxics

ISSN: 2305-6304 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/toxics/

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