A survey investigation of the associated effect of using air conditioning equipment on children’s health in Nanjing

A questionnaire study was conducted in Nanjing from December 2010 to March 2011 to evaluate the association of children’s health with the use of air conditioning equipment at their homes. The questionnaire was issued to parents of 4017 children aged 1–8 years old studying at 23 kindergartens located all over Nanjing in eight urban districts, two suburban districts and one industrial district. The parents of the children participated in the study filled in the questionnaire to provide information about the children’s health, home characteristics and their use of air conditioning equipment. Most families included in the study have air conditioners (91.7%) installed in their homes. Only 13.4% and 2.2% of families studied have humidifiers and air cleaners, respectively. The use of air conditioner was found to be associated with children that had pneumonia (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 1.46 (1.08–1.98), P < 0.05). The use of the humidifier was found to be associated with children having diagnosed asthma (AOR: 1.37 (1.01–1.86), P < 0.05) and rhinitis symptoms (AOR: 1.28 (1.06–1.55), P < 0.05). The use of air cleaner was also found to be associated with children having diagnosed asthma (AOR: 1.94 (1.07–3.50), P < 0.05). The use of air conditioning equipment was therefore found to be related to children that had or being experienced allergic respiratory diseases.