Is residential ambient air limonene associated with asthma? Findings from the Canadian Health Measures Survey. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dales, Robert E.; Cakmak, Sabit
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 244(2019)
• Page Start: 966
• Page End: 970
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Limonene -- Volatile organic compound -- Asthma -- Lung function -- Exhaled nitric oxide -- Epidemiology -- Population health; VOC Volatile Organic Compounds -- FEVl 1-s forced expiratory volume -- FVC forced vital capacity -- FeNO fraction of exhaled nitric oxide; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.072
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Asthma is a common chronic disease. Exposure to limonene is commonplace because it may be used in the manufacture of personal care products and household cleaners. We investigated the influence of limonene on asthma in a population-based sample of approximately 3000 Canadians. During the Canada Health Measures Survey, carried out between 2012 and 2013, participants were asked if they wheezed or had a diagnosis of asthma, and underwent spirometry and measurement of the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). These variables were tested for an association with limonene concentrations measured in their household air samples, using linear regression analysis A 100% increase in air limonene concentration was associated with an approximate 17% adjusted relative increase wheezing with an odds ratio of 1.17 (95%CI 1.16, 1.18). The percent change in FeNO for a 100% increase in limonene was twice as large for children, 2.89% (95% CI 1.88, 4.43) compared to adults, 1.44% (95%CI 1.16, 1.79). Among boys, the odds ratio was 1.50 (95%CI 1.48, 1.52) between a 100% increase in limonene and a diagnosis of asthma. This study provides evidence that household exposure to limonene may increase the prevalence of asthma in the general population. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Data were obtained from the nationally representative Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS 2012-2013). We tested the association between indoor air limonene and both asthma symptoms and exhaled nitric oxide. Increased concentrations of limonene were associated with increased prevalences of wheeze, asthma and FeNO. Abstract : Household exposure to limonene may increase the prevalence of asthma in the general population.