INDOOR FACTORS AND IGE LEVELS IN CHILDREN

The objective of the study was to determine indoor characteristics of households in relation to total serum IgE. In a population-based cross -sectional study, 1096 6-12-year-old children were examined in three E ast German towns (Eisleben, Hettstedt, and Zerbst). Of the questionnai res, 772 (70.4%) were returned by the parents. Serum IgE of 703 childr en and urinary cotinine in a random subsample of 224 children were ana lyzed. Linear regression on log(IgE) adjusted for the main covariates was used to assess indoor risk factors such as room size, and the pres ence of curtains, carpet, and plants in the child's room. Open-heating facilities indoors, passive smoking, and furniture made of chipboard had the most important effect. A higher urinary cotinine/creatinine ra tio was associated with higher total IgE level. Total IgE increased al so with the number of persons living in the household, independently o f indoor smoking. We conclude that indoor air pollution from smoking a nd open-heating facilities may increase the IgE levels of children. Th e role of other factors such as chipboard, which could reflect the emi ssion of formaldehyde, or the number of persons per household, which c ould reflect viral or helminthic infection, remains to be analyzed.