Indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a major concern nowadays because of the universality of exposure and its potential negative impact on human health especially on children. This study is intended to explore the association between IAQ and the respiratory health among preschool children in urban and suburban area. A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among Malay preschool children in urban (N= 60, Puchong) and suburban (N=60, Hulu Langat) areas. An indoor air quality assessment was conducted in 12 preschools and 60 houses which include parameters of PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, mold, bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and physical parameters. A set of standardized questionnaire was distributed to obtain respondents’ background information, exposure history and respiratory health symptoms. Spirometry test was carried out and the data obtained were analyzed to determine the lung function of the respondents. There was a significant difference between IAQ in urban and suburban preschools for all parameters measured (p<0.05). Most of the pollutants were significantly associated with respiratory health symptoms. There was a significant association between the level of indoor pollutants with the lung function abnormalities among the respondents. Even though this study is the first to take Gram-negative bacteria as an indoor air pollutant, the finding also shows that there is a significant association between exposure of Gram-negative bacteria with lung function impairment and higher reported respiratory symptoms among the respondents. The finding concluded that exposures to indoor air pollutants, especially PM2.5 increases the risk of getting lung function abnormality and respiratory health symptoms among respondents.
Indoor air quality ; mold ; bacteria ; lung function ; respiratory health symptoms

An 18-year-old man suffered heat stroke after continuous working for 26 hours on his first day in an aluminium utensil plant in August 1998. His job was to put a pressed aluminium utensil on the conveyer before the process of spray painting. The ranges of temperature and relative humidity measured at the local weather-station during the patient' s working period were 23.6-30.2 degrees C, 49-87 % respectively. On arrival the patient was comatose and suffered generalized seizure three times. His rectal temperature was 41.2 degrees C . blood pressure was 90/60 mmHg, pulse was 148 beats/minute and respiratory rate was 28 times/minute. The serum level of AST was 421 IU/L. ALT was 205 IU/L, LDH was 1,160 IU/L. myoglobin was higher than 500 ng/mL. OK was higher than 2,000 IU/L. He recovered consciousness 7th day of admission and discharged after 2 months but cerebellar dysarthria was remained. The patient felt himself several prodromal symptoms of heat stroke and he showed awkward behavior considered to be drowsiness, but the patient and his co-workers neglected them. This case report shows that heat stroke can be occurred in a condition that ambient temperature, humidity, and working load are not extreme. A thorough health education and management concerned with guidelines on salt and water intake, detection of early symptoms of heat-related illness, prompt body cooling and rapid transportation to a hospital is necessary.
Adolescent ; Blood Pressure ; Coma ; Consciousness ; Drinking ; Dysarthria ; Health Education ; Heat Stroke* ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Humidity ; Myoglobin ; Paint ; Paintings ; Plants* ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Respiratory Rate ; Seizures ; Sleep Stages ; Transportation