Calidad del aire interior en la habitación del bebé: estudio de las concentraciones de compuestos orgánicos volátiles
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Data
2017
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Os bebés passam a maior parte do tempo em casa. Apesar da qualidade do ar em contexto residencial ser ainda pouco conhecida, assume-se que é muito importante para a saúde das crianças, especialmente no contributo para o aparecimento de doença respiratória. Alguns Compostos Orgânicos Voláteis (COV) têm sido associados à asma e a sintomas de doença respiratória. A sibilância, frequentemente associada à asma, representa um sinal habitual de apresentação em consulta médica e pode aparecer de forma recorrente. A sua prevalência tem vindo a aumentar, assumindo enorme relevância e impacto na família e na sociedade pelos custos materiais e imateriais inerentes. Com base nesses pressupostos, esta investigação procurou associações entre os níveis de COV no interior do quarto de bebés, com as características do quarto e com episódios de sibilância nos bebés, com o objetivo de contribuir para o aumento do conhecimento em Saúde Ambiental da Criança.
Para tal, realizou-se um estudo transversal, através da avaliação da qualidade do ar no quarto de bebés (0-36 meses), residentes na área geográfica do Arco Ribeirinho (Alcochete, Barreiro, Moita e Montijo). De outubro de 2015 a março de 2016, técnicos de Saúde Ambiental deslocaram-se aos quartos dos bebés (n=131), e realizaram medições de parâmetros da qualidade do ar interior: concentrações de Compostos Orgânicos Voláteis Totais (COVT), Dióxido de Carbono (CO2), Monóxido de Carbono (CO), Temperatura e Humidade Relativa. Ao mesmo tempo foi aplicado um questionário para estudar as características do quarto, bem como para verificar a ocorrência de episódios de sibilância. O resultado dos níveis médios foi de 2,4 mg/m3, 1260,8 mg/m3, 0,2 mg/m3, 18,4 0C, 75%, para COVT, CO2, CO, Temperatura e Humidade Relativa, respetivamente. Os níveis médios de COVT constituem um valor oito vezes superior ao máximo de referência (0,3 mg/m3). Com exceção do CO, todos os parâmetros apresentaram um número significativo de valores que se afastou da referência. Os COVT estavam elevados em 39,7% dos quartos e o CO2 em 19,7% dos quartos. A Temperatura e a Humidade Relativa encontravam-se fora do intervalo de referência em 77,9% e 89% dos quartos, respetivamente.
Não foi encontrada associação estatisticamente significativa, entre qualquer dos parâmetros da qualidade do ar, com a ocorrência de episódios de sibilância. Também não ficou demostrada associação estatística entre os níveis de COVT e as características do quarto.
No entanto, apesar de não terem sido encontradas associações significativas, os resultados contêm muita informação relevante que sugere a necessidade de estudos adicionais para avaliar a exposição dos bebés à poluição do ar interior, especialmente em contexto residencial.
Palavras-chave: Qualidade do ar interior, compostos orgânicos voláteis (COV), dióxido de carbono, monóxido de carbono, bebé, quarto de bebé, sibilância.
Although Infants spend most of the time at home, the air quality in residential context is still scarcely studied. Nevertheless, it is assumed that the indoor air quality is very important for children’s health, especially because it may contribute to the onset of respiratory diseases. Some Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) have been associated with asthma and symptoms of respiratory disease. Wheezing is often associated with asthma. It is a usual reason to seek a medical appointment and it may appear on a recurring basis. Its prevalence has been increasing, leading to a great relevance and impact in families and society due to the inherent costs. Based on these assumptions, this research evaluated the association between the levels of VOCs inside the baby's room, with the room features and the occurrence of wheezing episodes in infants, aiming at fostering knowledge about children’s environmental health. A cross-sectional study was adopted, which evaluated the quality of the air in the rooms of babies (0-36 months) living in the geographical area of Arco Ribeirinho (Alcochete, Barreiro, Moita e Montijo). From October 2015 to March 2016, a team of Environmental Health Technicians visited several babies’ rooms (N = 131), and performed measurements of indoor air quality parameters: total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), temperature and relative humidity. At the same time a questionnaire was applied, in order to study the room features, as well as to verify the occurrence of wheezing episodes. The results of the mean levels were 2.4 mg/m3, 1260.8 mg/m3, 0.2mg/m3, 18.4 ºC, and 75% for TVOC, CO2, CO, temperature and relative humidity, respectively. Mean levels of TVOC showed a value eight times greater than the maximum reference (0.3 mg/m3). With the exception of CO, there were cases outside the reference values for all other parameters. TVOCs were elevated in 39.7% of the rooms and CO2 in 19.7% of the rooms. Temperature and Relative Humidity were outside the reference range in 77.9% and 89% of the rooms, respectively.No statistically significant association was demonstrated between any of the air quality parameters and the occurrence of wheezing episodes. Also, there were no statistical associations between TVOC levels and the room features. Despite the lack of statistical associations, the results obtained in this research contains significant information that warrant further studies to assess the children’s exposure to indoor air pollution, especially in residential context.
Although Infants spend most of the time at home, the air quality in residential context is still scarcely studied. Nevertheless, it is assumed that the indoor air quality is very important for children’s health, especially because it may contribute to the onset of respiratory diseases. Some Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) have been associated with asthma and symptoms of respiratory disease. Wheezing is often associated with asthma. It is a usual reason to seek a medical appointment and it may appear on a recurring basis. Its prevalence has been increasing, leading to a great relevance and impact in families and society due to the inherent costs. Based on these assumptions, this research evaluated the association between the levels of VOCs inside the baby's room, with the room features and the occurrence of wheezing episodes in infants, aiming at fostering knowledge about children’s environmental health. A cross-sectional study was adopted, which evaluated the quality of the air in the rooms of babies (0-36 months) living in the geographical area of Arco Ribeirinho (Alcochete, Barreiro, Moita e Montijo). From October 2015 to March 2016, a team of Environmental Health Technicians visited several babies’ rooms (N = 131), and performed measurements of indoor air quality parameters: total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), temperature and relative humidity. At the same time a questionnaire was applied, in order to study the room features, as well as to verify the occurrence of wheezing episodes. The results of the mean levels were 2.4 mg/m3, 1260.8 mg/m3, 0.2mg/m3, 18.4 ºC, and 75% for TVOC, CO2, CO, temperature and relative humidity, respectively. Mean levels of TVOC showed a value eight times greater than the maximum reference (0.3 mg/m3). With the exception of CO, there were cases outside the reference values for all other parameters. TVOCs were elevated in 39.7% of the rooms and CO2 in 19.7% of the rooms. Temperature and Relative Humidity were outside the reference range in 77.9% and 89% of the rooms, respectively.No statistically significant association was demonstrated between any of the air quality parameters and the occurrence of wheezing episodes. Also, there were no statistical associations between TVOC levels and the room features. Despite the lack of statistical associations, the results obtained in this research contains significant information that warrant further studies to assess the children’s exposure to indoor air pollution, especially in residential context.
Descrição
Diretores de Tese : Ana Sofia Fernandes ; Liliana Castanheira
Palavras-chave
DOUTORAMENTO EM CIÊNCIAS DA SAÚDE, CIÊNCIAS DA SAÚDE, HABITAÇÃO, DIÓXIDO DE CARBONO, MONÓXIDO DE CARBONO, BEBÉS, HEALTH SCIENCES, HOUSING, CARBON DIOXIDE, CARBON MONOXIDE, BABIES