Exposure to Indoor Ferromagnetic Particulate Matter Monitored by Strawberry Plants and the Occurrence of Acute Respiratory Events in Adults

Exposure assessment of air pollution in epidemiologic research remains a challenge. Previous studies showed that magnetic monitoring of strawberry leaves, based on Saturation Isothermal Remnant Magnetization (SIRM), is a valid tool for estimating the concentration of ambient particulate matter (PM). This study uses this assessment method for the first time in epidemiologic research to quantify indoor exposure to PM. In a nested case control study, we evaluated the association between ‘waking up by cough’ and indoor air pollution measured by SIRM of dust deposition on leaves of strawberry plants located in the bedroom in the general adult population. A multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the association between ‘waking up by cough’ and exposure to ferromagnetic particles of PM controlling for age, gender and smoking status. A cut-off of 10 µA was decided to define exposure status (high versus low). Using logistic regression, a crude odds ratio (OR) of 1.80 (95% CI: 0.90–3.60) for ‘waking up by cough’ was found. This association remained approximately the same after controlling for age, gender and smoking status (adjusted OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 0.60–5.30). We found an association between exposure to ferromagnetic particles and ‘waking up by cough’ in adults; however, it was not statistically significant. This environmental exposure assessment method could be a valuable alternative for expensive personal exposure measurement devices.