Interesting study on molds and infant health outcomes

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The type appears to make a difference over total spore counts: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2233910 Published in final edited form as: Pediatr Allergy

Immunol. 2006 September; 17(6): 450–457. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2006.00414.x. Specific fungal exposures, allergic sensitization, and rhinitis in infants Osborne,1 Tiina Reponen,1 Atin Adhikari,1 Seung-Hyun Cho,1 Sergey A. Grinshpun,1 Levin,1 I. Bernstein,2 and Grace LeMasters1 1 Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA 2 Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA Tiina Reponen PhD, Center for Health Related Aerosol Studies, Department of Environmental

Health, PO Box 670056, 3223 Eden Avenue, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA, Tel.: +1 , Fax: +1 , E-mail: tiina.reponen@... The publisher's final edited version of this article is available at Pediatr Allergy Immunol. Abstract Indoor air quality has become

increasingly important as we live in a society where the majority of our time is spent indoors. Specific attention has been drawn to airborne fungal spores as a factor affecting indoor air quality. This study targeted shortcomings of other studies by utilizing long-term air sampling and total fungal spore enumeration to determine associations between health outcomes and fungal spore concentrations. Infants (n = 144) were clinically evaluated and had skin prick tests (SPT) for 17 allergens. Airborne fungal spores were collected using a Button Personal Inhalable Sampler (SKC Inc.) for 48 h at a flow rate of 4 l/min. Sampling was conducted in the spring (March–May) or fall (August–October) in 2003–2004. Fungal spores were analyzed using microscopy-based total counting and identified to the genus/group level. Total spore and individual genus concentrations were analyzed for associations with rhinitis and positive SPT results. Overall, concentrations varied widely, between

<2 and 2294 spores/m3. While no relationship was observed between SPT(+) and total fungal counts, several significant associations were found when analysis was conducted on the various fungal genera and health outcomes. Positive associations were obtained between: Basidiospores and rhinitis (p < 0.01), Penicillium/Aspergillus and SPT(+) to any allergen (p < 0.01), and Alternaria and SPT(+) to any allergen (p < 0.01). Inverse associations were found between: Cladosporium and SPT(+) to any allergen (p < 0.05), and Cladosporium and SPT(+) to aeroallergens (p < 0.05). This study indicates that health outcome may vary by fungal genera; some fungal types may have sensitizing effects while others may have a beneficial role __________________________________________________