RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS

A health and housing questionnaire was administered to children, ages 9-11, living in 24 communities in the United States and Canada. Logist ic regression analysis examined the relationship between respiratory h ealth symptoms (bronchitic, asthmatic and lower respiratory) and housi ng factors. The health risks (expressed as relative odds) were control led for gender, parental asthma, parental chronic obstructive pulmonar y disease and parental education, as well as between-city differences. Lower respiratory symptoms had significantly higher odds ratios repor ted in older homes (1.12), homes with smokers (1.24), air conditioners (1.14), air cleaners (1.37), and humidifiers (1.47). Home dampness (1 .48) and the individual mold and water variables were all significantl y associated with increased symptoms. Similar results were reported fo r bronchitic and asthmatic symptoms. While air conditioners and air cl eaners were confounded with symptoms, humidifiers remained significant after controlling for childhood atopy.