ABSTRACT

The objective is to assess the impact of domestic indoor suspended particulate matter (SPM) on respiratory function of children. Children (7-15 years) from upper, middle and lower income group family were recruited from Ashok Vihar, residential area of Delhi, India. The information on demographic, in home smoking, children respiratory tract illness (cough, wheezing, running nose, or nasal blockage) were collected from each participant. Indoor suspended particulate matter was collected from home and analyzed. Out of 441 children, 59% were male and 41% were female. 34.9% had at least one individual from the family smoking at home. Ventilation was poor in 31% of houses. 31% of house didn’t had exhaust in kitchen. Respiratory health profile suggest 38.3% of children had cough, 15% had sputum production, 20.9% had shortness of breath, 20.9% had wheezing, 27.7% had common cold, 22% had throat infection. 125 children’s house domestic suspended particulate matter was analyzed. SPM level varied from 0.22 to 3.41 mg/m³ with mean of 1.3658 mg/m³ (± 0.6253). 60 (48%) had respiratory problem out of 125 children. Out of these 60 children who had respiratory problem, SPM level was < 1.3658 mg/m³ in 17 (28.3%) children and > 1.3658 mg/m³ in 43 (71.7%). Children who didn’t had any respiratory problem (52%) the SPM level was < 1.3658 mg/m³ in 51 (78.5%) and only 14 (21.5%) children have SPM level > 1.3658 mg/m³. That shows that SPM level > 1.3658 mg/m³ has significant effect in developing respiratory illness of children (p < 0.05). Passive smoking has also significant effect in developing respiratory illness of children (p = 0.02). Hence it is concluded that in addition to exposure to passive smoking, the indoor SPM level > 1.3658 mg/m³ has significant effect on respiratory symptom of children.