Furry pet-related wheeze and rhinitis in pre-school children across China: Associations with early life dampness and mould, furry pet keeping, outdoor temperature, PM10 and PM2.5

Chan Lu; Dan Norbäck; Yinping Zhang; Baizhan Li; Zhuohui Zhao; Chen Huang; Xin Zhang; Hua Qian; Yuexia Sun; Juan Wang; Wei Liu; Jan Sundell; Qihong Deng

Environment International (Nov 2020)

Furry pet-related wheeze and rhinitis in pre-school children across China: Associations with early life dampness and mould, furry pet keeping, outdoor temperature, PM10 and PM2.5

Chan Lu,
Dan Norbäck,
Yinping Zhang,
Baizhan Li,
Zhuohui Zhao,
Chen Huang,
Xin Zhang,
Hua Qian,
Yuexia Sun,
Juan Wang,
Wei Liu,
Jan Sundell,
Qihong Deng

Affiliations

Chan Lu: XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Dan Norbäck: XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Corresponding authors at: Dept. of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, University Hospital, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden (D. Norbäck). School of Energy Science and Engineering; XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan, China (Q. Deng).
Yinping Zhang: School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Baizhan Li: Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region’s Eco-Environment, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
Zhuohui Zhao: Department of Environmental Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Chen Huang: Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
Xin Zhang: Research Center for Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
Hua Qian: School of Energy & Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
Yuexia Sun: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Juan Wang: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Wei Liu: School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Institute for Health and Environment, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing, China
Jan Sundell: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Qihong Deng: XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China; Corresponding authors at: Dept. of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, University Hospital, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden (D. Norbäck). School of Energy Science and Engineering; XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan, China (Q. Deng).

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 144
p. 106033

Abstract

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Background: Few Chinese population studies exist on early life risk factors for furry pet allergy. Objectives: We studied childhood respiratory symptoms when in contact with furry pets in relation to early life exposure. Moreover, we studied similar environmental associations for rhinitis not related to furry pets. Methods: Children aged 3–6 y from day care centres in seven Chinese cities participated (N = 39,782). Parents answered a questionnaire on home environment and children’s health, including rhinoconjunctivitis and wheeze when in contact with furry pets, and diagnosed rhinitis. Prenatal and postnatal outdoor temperature, PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 were calculated using data from monitoring stations. Associations were estimated by multilevel logistic regression. Results: Totally 2% had cats, 4% dogs, and 3.2% had rhinoconjunctivitis or wheeze when in contact with furry pets (FP symptoms). Moreover, 1.1% had furry pet related diagnosed rhinitis and 7.5% had diagnosed rhinitis not related to furry pets (other diagnosed rhinitis). Prenatal PM2.5 and PM10, especially in second trimester, and a colder climate were risk factors for FP symptoms. ETS, dampness and mould, condensation on windows in wintertime, and cats and dog keeping were associated with FP symptoms. Breast feeding and frequent window opening were protective. Similar indoor associations were found for furry pet related diagnosed rhinitis. ETS, dampness and mould, window condensation, urbanization and mechanical exhaust ventilation were risk factors for other diagnosed rhinitis. Cooking with an electric stove and early life exposure to animals (cats, dogs, farm environment during pregnancy) were protective for diagnosed rhinitis not related to furry pets. Conclusions: Prenatal outdoor PM10 and PM2.5 can be risk factors for symptoms suggestive of furry pet allergy. Early life dampness and mould can be risk factors for rhinitis related and not related to furry pets. Exposure to animals (cats, dogs, farm environment) may reduce diagnosed rhinitis not related to furry pets.

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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