Chang Moon-Hee, Park Hyesook, Ha Mina, Kim Yangho, Hong Yun-Chul, Ha Eun-Hee
Department of Preventive Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Environ Health Toxicol. 2012;27:e2012003. doi: 10.5620/eht.2012.27.e2012003. Epub 2012 Jan 26.
The current use of humidifier detergent and its harmful impact on humans has arisen as a societal environmental health issue. Therefore, in this study we aimed to explore the relationship between demo-socio characteristics and humidifier use, as well as the monthly usage changes in pregnant women; thus, we report the actual status of humidifier usage of Korea's pregnant population.
From a birth cohort of a Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study, 1,144 pregnant women who responded through questionnaires including demo-socio characteristics, obstetric status and household environment including whether they use humidifier and frequency of use were included in this study. Statistical analyses were performed to explore the relationship between maternal characteristics and the relevance of the use of humidifiers was performed using a chi-square test, a t-test and univariate logistic regression analysis. The monthly usage rate was demonstrated in the graph.
The humidifier usage rate in pregnant women was 28.2%. The average frequency of humidifier usage was 4.6 days per week, 7.3 hours per day. The usage rate was higher in the multipara group and the above the age of 34 age group than in the primipara and below the age of 34 groups. Seoul showed a higher usage rate than Cheonan and Ulsan and as the education level and income increased, the usage rate of humidifiers among pregnant women also increased. In the monthly trend of usage rate, the winter season showed the highest usage rate of over 45% and the lowest in late summer and beginning of fall with a value of 12% or less.
During pregnancy, the mother's body is especially vulnerable to hazardous environmental exposure that not only affects the pregnant woman but also the fetus. Further research is still needed to elucidate the route and effect of environmental risk factors. Therefore, based on precautionary and preventive principles, special interest and caution in harmful environments are strongly needed not only at an individual level but also at a national level.
加湿器洗涤剂的当前使用情况及其对人类的有害影响已成为一个社会环境卫生问题。因此，在本研究中，我们旨在探讨人口统计学社会特征与加湿器使用之间的关系，以及孕妇的每月使用变化情况；从而报告韩国孕妇群体加湿器使用的实际状况。
从母婴环境健康（MOCEH）研究的出生队列中，选取1144名通过问卷回复的孕妇纳入本研究，问卷内容包括人口统计学社会特征、产科状况和家庭环境，其中家庭环境包括她们是否使用加湿器以及使用频率。进行统计分析以探讨母亲特征与加湿器使用相关性之间的关系，采用卡方检验、t检验和单因素逻辑回归分析。每月使用率在图表中展示。
孕妇中加湿器使用率为28.2%。加湿器的平均使用频率为每周4.6天，每天7.3小时。经产妇组和34岁以上年龄组的使用率高于初产妇组和34岁以下年龄组。首尔的使用率高于天安和蔚山，并且随着教育水平和收入的提高，孕妇中加湿器的使用率也增加。在每月使用率趋势方面，冬季的使用率最高，超过45%，夏末和初秋最低，为12%或更低。
在孕期，母亲的身体特别容易受到有害环境暴露的影响，这不仅会影响孕妇，还会影响胎儿。仍需要进一步研究以阐明环境风险因素的途径和影响。因此，基于预防原则，不仅在个人层面，而且在国家层面，都迫切需要对有害环境给予特别关注和谨慎对待。
