Exploration of the Effects of Classroom Humidity Levels on Teachers’ Respiratory Symptoms

Details

• Personal Author:
  Angelon-Gaetz KA ; Hernandez ML ; Marshall SW ; Richardson DB
• Description:
  PURPOSE: Previous studies indicate that teachers have higher asthma prevalence than other non-industrial worker groups. Schools frequently have trouble maintaining indoor relative humidity (RH) within the optimum range (30-50 %) for reducing allergens and irritants. However, the potential relationship between classroom humidity and teachers' health has not been explored. Thus, we examined the relationship between classroom humidity levels and respiratory symptoms among North Carolina teachers. METHODS: Teachers (n = 122) recorded daily symptoms, while data-logging hygrometers recorded classroom RH levels in ten North Carolina schools. We examined effects of indoor humidity on occurrence of symptoms using modified Poisson regression models for correlated binary data. RESULTS: The risk of asthma-like symptoms among teachers with classroom RH >50 % for 5 days was 1.27 (95 % Confidence Interval (CI) 0.81, 2.00) times the risk among the referent (teachers with classroom RH 30-50 %). The risk of cold/allergy symptoms among teachers with classroom RH >50 % for 5 days was 1.06 (95 % CI 0.82, 1.37) times the risk among the referent. Low RH (<30 %) for 5 days was associated with increased risk of asthma-like [risk ratio (RR) = 1.26 (95 % CI 0.73, 2.17)] and cold/allergy symptoms [RR = 1.11 (95 % CI 0.90, 1.37)]. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that prolonged exposure to high or low classroom RH was associated with modest (but not statistically significant) increases in the risk of respiratory symptoms among teachers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollution, Indoor Asthma Asthma, Occupational Humidity Hypersensitivity Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Allergens Author Keywords: Allergies Classroom Humidity IAQ Indoor Air Quality Longitudinal Study Respiratory Health Teachers Teaching Workplace
• ISSN:
  0340-0131
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; North Carolina ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  89
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050108
• Citation:
  Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2016 Jul; 89(5):729-737
• Contact Point Address:
  Kim A. Angelon.Gaetz, Epidemiology Department, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
• Email:
  kangelongaetz@gmail.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  San Diego State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
• End Date:
  20070630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:df1dae5de6d28978b6c64bf46669add8d8bb00fb61e806af86f53816caee7fc3703c43cc7dcea78b1a7cc6aedd503bcf006431b3353c569aa69a5e4d3a122941
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210600/cdc_210600_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 449.35 KB ]