Humidifier Use in the Home Environment and Its Effects on Respiratory Health

Abstract

This study sought to examine the association between household humidifier use and subsequent experiencing of adverse health symptoms. The analyses were based on a cross-sectional survey of 101 people residing in Chester County, South Carolina. Evaluation of the effect of exposure to different humidifier factors on the respiratory and general health of residents using humidifiers was achieved by univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. People who cleaned their humidifiers less frequently were more likely to report untoward health symptoms than people who cleaned their humidifiers frequently. This relationship persisted even after controlling for the effects of potential confounding factors: age, gender, race, smoking, and educational status. Infrequent humidifier cleaners had significantly higher odds of reporting adverse health symptoms like headache (adjusted odds ratio = 17.1), eye irritation (adjusted odds ratio = 9.9), sore throat (adjusted odds ratio = 11.1), nose irritation (adjusted odds ratio = 10.9), and cough (adjusted odds ratio = 14.3) than frequent cleaners. Currently physicians and researchers have divided opinions about the benefits of humidifiers and vaporizers. While increased humidity during winter months may reduce the number of respiratory infections and problems an individual experiences, results of this study indicate that proper maintenance of the equipment is equally important for preventing health problems.