Household reporting of childhood respiratory health and air pollution in rural Alaska Native communities

Abstract

Background

Air pollution is an important contributor to respiratory disease in children.

Objective

To examine associations between household reporting of childhood respiratory conditions and household characteristics related to air pollution in Alaska Native communities.

Design

In-home surveys were administered in 2 rural regions of Alaska. The 12-month prevalence of respiratory conditions was summarized by region and age. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to describe associations between respiratory health and household and air quality characteristics.

Results

Household-reported respiratory health data were collected for 561 children in 328 households. In 1 region, 33.6% of children aged <5 years had a recent history of pneumonia and/or bronchitis. Children with these conditions were 2 times more likely to live in a wood-heated home, but these findings were imprecise. Resident concern with mould was associated with elevated prevalence of respiratory infections in children (ORs 1.6–2.5), while reported wheezing was associated with 1 or more smokers living in the household. Reported asthma in 1 region (7.6%) was lower than national prevalence estimates.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that there may be preventable exposures, including wood smoke and mould that affect childhood respiratory disease in these rural areas. Additional research is needed to quantify particulate matter 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter or less and mould exposures in these communities, and to objectively evaluate childhood respiratory health.

• air pollution
• Alaska
• asthma
• children
• respiratory tract infections
• surveys

Acknowledgements

Funding for this work was provided by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (US) as part of grant number RC1ES018400. Additional support was provided by Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (US) grant number P20RR017670 and grant number P30GM103325.