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Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal The effect of ventilation strategies of child care centers on indoor air quality and respiratory health of children in Singapore

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal

Zuraimi MS, Tham KW, Chew FT, Ooi PL
2007
Indoor Air. 17 (4): 317-327

This paper reports the effects of ventilation strategies on indoor air quality (IAQ) and respiratory health of children within 104 child care centers (CCCs) in a hot and humid climate. The CCCs were categorized by ventilation strategies: natural (NV), air-conditioned and mechanically ventilated (ACMV), air-conditioned using split units (AC), and hybrid (NV and AC operated intermittently). The concentration levels of IAQ parameters in NV CCCs are characterized by the influence of the outdoors and good dilution of indoor pollutants. The lower ventilation rates in air-conditioned CCCs result in higher concentrations of occupant-related pollutants but lower outdoor pollutant ingress. This study also revealed lower prevalence for most asthma and allergy, and respiratory symptoms in children attending NV CCCs. In multivariate analyses controlled for the effects of confounders, the risk of current rhinitis among children is significantly higher if they attend mechanically ventilated CCCs compared to NV CCCs. Air-conditioned CCCs were also associated with higher adjusted prevalence ratio of severe phlegm and cough symptoms and lower respiratory illness. Finally, children attending CCCs with hybrid ventilation are at high risk for almost all the respiratory symptoms studied. © 2007 The Authors Journal compilation 2007 Blackwell Munksgaard.

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Resource Description

    Air Pollution, Meteorological Factor, Temperature
    • Air Pollution, Meteorological Factor, Temperature: Allergens
    General Geographic Feature
    Non-United States
    • Non-United States: Asia
    Respiratory Impact
    • Respiratory Impact: Asthma, Upper Respiratory Allergy
    Research Article
    Adaptation, Climate Justice/Climate Equity, Sociodemographic Vulnerability, Vulnerable Population
    • Adaptation, Climate Justice/Climate Equity, Sociodemographic Vulnerability, Vulnerable Population: Adaptation Co-Benefit/Co-Harm, Intervention, Vulnerability Assessment
    • Adaptation, Climate Justice/Climate Equity, Sociodemographic Vulnerability, Vulnerable Population: Children, Low Socioeconomic Status
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