US EPA

3602890 

Journal Article 

Indoor air quality and asthma: has unrecognized exposure to acrolein confounded results of previous studies? 

Golden, R; Holm, S 

2017 

Yes 

Dose-Response
ISSN: 1559-3258 

15 

1 

1-9 

English 

28250718 

10.1177/1559325817691159 

WOS:000394678400008 

Numerous contaminants in indoor air and their potential to cause or exacerbate asthma continue to be a subject of public health concern. Many agents are causally associated with or can exacerbate asthma, particularly in children. For formaldehyde, an established respiratory irritant based on numerous studies, the evidence for an association with asthma is still considered only limited or suggestive. However, there is no evidence that indicates increased sensitivity to sensory irritation to formaldehyde in people often regarded as susceptible such as asthmatics. Acrolein, but not formaldehyde, was significantly associated with asthma in a large cohort of children. This prompted an evaluation of this highly irritating chemical that had never previously been considered in the context of the indoor air/childhood asthma issue. Because acrolein is more potent than formaldehyde as a respiratory irritant and ubiquitous in indoor air, it is plausible that previous studies on potential risk factors and childhood asthma may be confounded by formaldehyde acting as an unrecognized proxy for acrolein. 

formaldehyde; acrolein; asthma; children; indoor air; confounding