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Background: Household outdoor/indoor exposures may be important risk factors for respiratory symptoms. Aim: to evaluate the associations of respiratory symptoms with exposures next/inside home in children. Methods: Analyses regard 2,529 Italian schoolchildren (51% males, mean age 10 ± 1.8 years). Information on household characteristics and children9s health were provided by the parents. Results: Frequency of symptoms in the past year: 8% wheezing, 23% dry cough at night, 9% any cough, 8% any phlegm, 21% nasal problems, 11% oculo-rhinitic problems. Frequency of exposure next/inside home: 32% vehicular traffic, 14% outdoor pesticides, 7% garage communicating with home, 22% passive smoking, 19% mold/mold odor, 24% condensation on windows (CoW), 24% home renovation, 49% air conditioners, 31% air fresheners. Multiple regression analyses including all considered exposures, and adjusted for gender, age, and crowding index, indicated the following significant associations: wheezing with outdoor pesticides (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.07-2.57), dry cough at night with air fresheners (1.55, 1.24-1.93), any cough with CoW (1.56, 1.07-2.29) and air fresheners (1.53, 1.10-2.14), any phlegm with mold/mold odor (1.56, 1.03-2.38), CoW (1.49, 1.00-2.21), and home renovation (1.59, 3.22-6.53), nasal problems with vehicular traffic (1.27, 1.00-1.64), oculo-rhinitic problems with vehicular traffic (1.49, 1.10-2.06) and outdoor pesticides (1.84, 1.22-2.78). The results did not change after further adjustment for passive smoking, presence of pets, and number of years spent in the current home. Conclusion: Several household environmental conditions are risk factors for respiratory symptoms in Italian schoolchildren. Such information can be useful for preventative strategies.

Background: Home and school environments may be important sources of mold and dampness exposures. Aim: to evaluate the associations among respiratory symptoms and exposure to mold (visible or mold odor) or condensation of windows (CoW) at home and at school in recent years. Methods: Analyses regard 2,370 Italian schoolchildren (51% males, mean age 10 ± 1.8 years). Information on exposure at school were provided by the teachers, on home exposure and children9s health by the parents. Results: 23% of children had dry cough at night, 11% breathlessness, and 21% nasal problems; 19% of children were exposed to mold at home, and 17% at school; 24% of children were exposed to CoW at home, and 18% at school. All symptoms were significantly more frequent in exposed than unexposed to mold and CoW at home. Breathlessness was also significantly more prevalent in exposed to mold at school, as well as dry cough and nasal problems also in exposed to CoW at school. Multivariate models including all considered exposures, and accounting for age, gender, and passive smoking at home, showed the following associations: dry cough with CoW at home (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01-1.76), and both at home and at school (1.70, 1.04-2.80); breathlessness with mold at home (1.77, 1.20-2.62), and at school (1.56, 1.05-2.31); nasal problems with exposure to CoW both at home and at school (OR 1.83, 1.11-3.01). Conclusion: Mold or dampness exposures, either at home or at school, continue to be risk factors for upper and lower airways for the time being in Italian schoolchildren.