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Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery
Published on: February 14, 2019
Raised exhaled nitric oxide in healthy children is associated with domestic formaldehyde levels
P Franklin1, P Dingle, S Stick
1School of Environmental Sciences, Murdoch University, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia. peterf@ichr.uwa.edu.au
Insights
Home formaldehyde exposure may cause airway inflammation in children. Elevated exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels were observed in children exposed to higher formaldehyde concentrations, suggesting a subclinical inflammatory response.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Toxicology
Background:
- Formaldehyde exposure at domestic levels is linked to adverse respiratory symptoms in children.
- Mechanisms underlying formaldehyde-induced respiratory effects remain unclear.
- Investigating subclinical inflammatory responses to indoor formaldehyde is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between domestic formaldehyde levels and airway inflammation in healthy children.
- To determine if formaldehyde exposure correlates with elevated exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels.
- To evaluate lung function (spirometry) in relation to home formaldehyde exposure.
Main Methods:
- Measured home formaldehyde levels using passive sampling in 224 healthy children (6-13 years).
- Quantified exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) using a chemiluminescence analyzer.
- Assessed lung function via spirometry.
Main Results:
- No significant effect of formaldehyde levels on spirometric variables was found.
- Children in homes with formaldehyde levels ≥50 ppb showed significantly elevated eNO levels (15.5 ppb vs. 8.7 ppb).
- Elevated eNO suggests a subclinical inflammatory response in the airways.
Conclusions:
- Domestic formaldehyde exposure may trigger subclinical airway inflammation in healthy children.
- Exhaled nitric oxide serves as a potential biomarker for formaldehyde-induced airway inflammation.
- Further research is warranted to understand long-term respiratory health impacts.
Abstract:
Exposure to domestic levels of formaldehyde has been associated with adverse respiratory symptoms in both adults and children. The underlying mechanisms responsible for these findings have not been established. In order to investigate possible inflammatory effects of formaldehyde at levels typically found in the home, we measured exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) in 224 healthy children 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 nitric oxide analyzer. The children also undertook a lung function (spirometry) test. There was no effect of formaldehyde levels measured in homes on spirometric variables. However, eNO levels were significantly elevated in children living in homes with average formaldehyde levels >/= 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 >/= 50 ppb compared with 8.7 ppb (7.9 to 9.6) for children from homes with formaldehyde concentrations < 50 ppb (p < 0.05). These results suggest that exposure to formaldehyde in homes may invoke a subclinical inflammatory response in the airways of healthy children.
