Occupational and environmental risk factors for respiratory symptoms in rural Beijing, China

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of occupational and environmental exposure on respiratory symptoms in adults in rural Beijing, China. Thirty randomly selected villages in the counties of Shunyi and Tongxian, 50 km north and east, respectively, of the city of Beijing, China, participated in this study. Village doctors interviewed all residents aged > or = 15 yrs and completed the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Questionnaire on Bronchial Symptoms translated into Chinese with added questions on smoking and occupational and environmental exposure. Of the eligible population, 22,528 adults (98%) took part. The prevalence of all respiratory symptoms, i.e. asthma-like symptoms, asthma attacks in the last 12 months, chronic cough and chronic phlegm, was low. Significant determinants for respiratory symptoms were age, sex, smoking and county of residence. A dose-dependent relationship was found between cumulative cigarette consumption and prevalence of respiratory symptoms. After adjusting for these variables, exposure to insecticides and fertilisers significantly increased the risk of most of the respiratory symptoms, whereas exposure to indoor air pollution from domestic fuels did not. Exposure to chemicals such as insecticides and fertilisers contributed independently to the risk of respiratory symptoms in rural Beijing, China.