P. Franklin et al., Raised exhaled nitric oxide in healthy children is associated with domestic formaldehyde levels, AM J R CRIT, 161(5), 2000, pp. 1757-1759
Exposure to domestic levels of formaldehyde has been associated with advers
e respiratory symptoms in both adults and children. The underlying mechanis
ms responsible for these findings have not been established. In order to in
vestigate possible inflammatory effects of formaldehyde at levels typically
found in the home, we measured exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) in 224 healthy c
hildren 6 to 13 yr of age (116 girls) and monitored formaldehyde levels in
their homes. Formaldehyde was monitored using a passive sampling technique.
Exhaled NO was measured directly into a fast response chemiluminescence ni
tric oxide analyzer. The children also undertook a lung function (spirometr
y) test. There was no effect of formaldehyde levels measured in homes on sp
irometric variables. However, eNO levels were significantly elevated in chi
ldren living in homes with average formaldehyde revels greater than or equa
l to 50 ppb. Exhaled NO levels (geometric mean) were 15.5 ppb (95% CI: 10.5
to 22.9 ppb) for children from homes with formaldehyde concentrations grea
ter than or equal to 50 ppb compared with 8.7 ppb (7.9 to 9.6) for children
from homes with formaldehyde concentrations < 50 pph (p < 0.05). These res
ults suggest that exposure to formaldehyde in homes may invoke a subclinica
l inflammatory response in the airways of healthy children.