Indoor air cleaner helped reduce asthma symptoms in children living with smokers

Butz AM. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011;165:741-748.

Air cleaners can greatly reduce air pollution and lower the rates of daytime asthma symptoms in children living in households with one or more smokers, according to a study.

“Use of air cleaners in homes of children with asthma was associated with a significant reduction in indoor [particulate matter] concentrations and increase in symptom free days,” the researchers wrote.

A study by Johns Hopkins Hospital Children’s Center focused on smoking habits and the effects on children with asthma. Eligibility to partake in the study included having a child aged 6 to 12 years who had been diagnosed with asthma by a physician, had symptom frequency, or controller medication. There had to be at least one smoker who resided in the home at least 4 days per week and who smoked more than five cigarettes per day.

After completing a baseline questionnaire, 126 participating families were randomly assigned to the control, air cleaner, or air cleaner plus health coach groups. Participants in the air cleaner group received two free-standing air cleaners plugged into the bedroom and living room. The air cleaner plus health coach groups received the air cleaners, as well as at-home health education on the dangers of secondhand smoke by a nurse. Finally, the control group received two air cleaners after the study was complete.

A measure of the child’s secondhand smoke exposure, urine cotinine level, indoor air quality assessment, air nicotine level, asthma morbidity and health care utilization, and adherence to air cleaner use was taken at the beginning and end of the study 6 months later. The study found that there were no significant differences in air nicotine or urine cotinine concentrations between baseline and follow-up sessions, although asthma symptoms were reduced.

Overall, the air cleaners were helpful to children with asthma, but the researchers said it is not the best answer.

“It is a tenet of public health practice that eliminating a source of contaminant is better than reducing it through an engineering control,” the researchers wrote. “As a result, implementing a smoke-free home policy should be considered, particularly in the homes of children with asthma.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

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