Exposure to indoor air pollution (PM10) and its association with lung function and respiratory problem among community (housewives) living near A Rice Mill/ Nor Abidah Abdullah

A cross-sectional study was carried out on housewives who lived close to rice mill at Pendang, Kedah. The objective of this is to study the association between exposures to indoor air pollution (PM10) and respiratory problem among housewives living near a rice mill. The 60 exposed housewives to rice mill were selected in this study. Confounding factors has been controlled by excluded the respondent with asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), bronchitis and smoking habit. The houses which are use air conditioning system and under construction or renovation inside their home has been excluded. Questionnaires obtained from American Thoracic Society's Division of Lung Diseases (ATS-DLD-78-A) were used in interview the housewives to get their background and respiratory symptoms. Housewives lung function was measured by Chest Graph Spirometer Model HI-101. The indoor PM10 was monitored in the house for 12 hours and 24 hours for outdoor by using Sensidyne Air Sampling Pump. The result of indoor PM10 showed the mean is 109.56±29.75 ug/m3 and the range of indoor PM10 is 60.59 ug/m3 to 158.82 ug/m3. There is significant different between concentration level of indoor and outdoor PM10 (p<O.OO1). Mean 24 hours outdoor PM10 levels (181.96±9.78 µg/m3) were higher compared to indoor levels of PM10 (109.56±29.75 µg/m3). There is 'significant correlation between concentration level of PM10 and indoor environmental factor which is usage of carpet (r=0.275, p=0.O34). There is also significant correlation between concentration level of PM10 and distance of house from rice mill (r=-O.395, p=0.OO2). Mean FVC% predicted is 90.25±18.47, (89.24±15.24) FEV1% predicted and FEV1/FCV% predicted (ll3.O9±5.69). There were 71.7% are normal for FCV%, 16.7% (mild), 10% (moderate) and 1.7% are severe. However, there were 76.7% are normal for FEV1%, 18.3% (mild) and 5% are moderate. Predicted of FEV 1/FCV% are normal for aU respondents. The respiratory symptoms experienced by respondent are cough (50%), phlegm (31.7%), breathlessness (33.3%), wheezing (25%), chest illness (23.3%), and episodes of cough and phlegm (20%). The result from t-test showed that the concentration of indoor PM10 is below the standard concentration of outdoor PM10 is above the guideline and concentration of outdoor PM10 was exceeding the Recommended Malaysian Air Quality Guidelines set up by the Department of Environmental which is 150 µg/m3 Concentration of outdoor PM10 is higher than in indoor. The most respiratory symptom experienced by respondent is coughing.