Exposure to molds and allergic sensitization. Microbial contamination of Moscow dwelling rooms.

[Guest guest]

Gig Sanit. 2008 Sep-Oct;(5):38-41.

[Microbial contamination of Moscow dwelling rooms]

[Article in Russian]

Akhapkina IG, Gerasimova SI, Plotnikova NV, Filatova VI,

Cherkasova LS, Zheltikova TM.

The rise of allergic diseases warrants an investigation of various

environmental factors that are able to influence man negatively. By

interacting with the human organism, bacteria and their decomposition

products are well-known to stimulate different immunological

reactions. The 24-month study has indicated that the total bacterial

contamination of dust and the typical diversity of microbes depend on

the season. In winter the occurrence ofgram-negative bacteria is high.

The latter is indicative of that the dust of flats may contain high

levels of endotoxin and thus the less comfort of life in the

individuals who are genetically predisposed to hypersensitivity.

Publication Types:

* Comparative Study

* English Abstract

PMID: 19069392 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Environ Health Perspect. 2002 Jul;110(7):647-53.

Indoor exposure to molds and allergic sensitization.

http://www.ehponline.org/members/2002/110p647-653jacob/jacob-full.html

B, Ritz B, Gehring U, Koch A, Bischof W, Wichmann HE, Heinrich J.

GSF-Institute of Epidemiology, Munich, Germany. beate.jacob@...

Evidence that indoor dampness and mold growth are associated with

respiratory health has been accumulating, but few studies have been

able to examine health risks in relation to measured levels of indoor

mold exposure. In particular, little is known about the contribution

of indoor molds to the development of allergic sensitization. As a

part of an ongoing study examining the effects of ambient air

pollutants on respiratory health and atopic diseases in German school

children, we examined the relation between viable mold levels indoors

and allergic sensitization in 272 children. We examined whether

allergic sensitization in children is associated with higher fungal

spore count in settled house dust sampled from living room floors.

Adjusting for age, sex, parental education, region of residency, and

parental history of atopy, we found that mold spore counts for

Cladosporium and Aspergillus were associated with an increased risk of

allergic sensitization. Sensitized children exposed to high levels of

mold spores (> 90th percentile) were more likely to suffer from

symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis. We conclude that elevated indoor

concentrations of molds in wintertime might play a role in increasing

the risk of developing atopic symptoms and allergic sensitization not

only to molds but also to other common, inhaled allergens. These

effects were strongest in the group of children who had lived in the

same home since birth.

Publication Types:

* Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 12117641 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC1240910

Indian J Med Microbiol. 2008 Oct-Dec;26(4):302-12.

Bio-aerosols in indoor environment: composition, health effects

and analysis.

Srikanth P, Sudharsanam S, Steinberg R.

Department of Microbiology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and

Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil

Nadu, India. srikanth_padma@...

Bio-aerosols are airborne particles that are living (bacteria,

viruses and fungi) or originate from living organisms. Their presence

in air is the result of dispersal from a site of colonization or

growth. The health effects of bio-aerosols including infectious

diseases, acute toxic effects, allergies and cancer coupled with the

threat of bioterrorism and SARS have led to increased awareness on the

importance of bio-aerosols. The evaluation of bio-aerosols includes

use of variety of methods for sampling depending on the concentration

of microorganisms expected. There have been problems in developing

standard sampling methods, in proving a causal relationship and in

establishing threshold limit values for exposures due to the

complexity of composition of bio-aerosols, variations in human

response to their exposure and difficulties in recovering

microorganisms.

Currently bio-aerosol monitoring in hospitals is carried out for

epidemiological investigation of nosocomial infectious diseases,

research into airborne microorganism spread and control, monitoring

biohazardous procedures and use as a quality control measure. In India

there is little awareness regarding the quality of indoor air, mould

contamination in indoor environments, potential source for

transmission of nosocomial infections in health care facilities. There

is an urgent need to undertake study of indoor air, to generate

baseline data and explore the link to nosocomial infections. This

article is a review on composition, sources, modes of transmission,

health effects and sampling methods used for evaluation of

bio-aerosols, and also suggests control measures to reduce the loads

of bio-aerosols.

Publication Types:

* Review

PMID: 18974481 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Am J Rhinol. 2008 Sep-Oct;22(5):457-62.

Occupational rhinitis in damp and moldy workplaces.

Karvala K, Nordman H, Luukkonen R, Nykyri E, Lappalainen S, Hannu

T, Toskala E.

Occupational Medicine Team, Finnish Institute of Occupational

Health, Helsinki, Finland. kirsi.karvala@...

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies confirm the association between

exposure to indoor air dampness and molds and different health

outcomes. Of these, upper respiratory tract problems are the most

commonly reported work-related symptoms in damp indoor environments.

The aim of this study was to describe a clinically investigated

patient series with occupational rhinitis induced by molds. METHODS:

Nasal provocation test (NPT) with commercial fungal allergens was

performed in 369 patients during 1995-2004 at the Finnish Institute of

Occupational Health. Of these, 60 (16%) were positive. In addition to

positive NPT, the diagnosis of occupational rhinitis was based on

verified exposure to molds, work-related nasal symptoms, and clinical

investigations. We wanted to review the patient files of these 60

patients retrospectively, and 56 patients gave their informed consent.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 43.7 years (SD +/- 9.5).

Fifty (89.3%) patients were women. In 23% of the patients,

IgE-mediated allergy to molds could be established. Atopy

significantly increased IgE sensitization to molds (OR, 10.3 [95% CI,

2.0-52.5]). The most common mold to induce occupational rhinitis was

Aspergillus fumigatus. Exposure time was over 5 years in 63% of the

patients. Association between the IgE sensitization to molds and

exposure level was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, p =

0.046). CONCLUSION: This is the first clinically investigated series

on occupational rhinitis in relation to a moldy environment. Based on

our findings, we conclude that molds growing in conjunction with

moisture damages can induce occupational rhinitis. IgE-mediated

allergy to molds was not common. Atopy and significant exposure level

increased IgE sensitization to molds. zri00508.

Publication Types:

* Comparative Study

* Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 18954502 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

: J Epidemiol Community Health. 2008 Sep;62(9):793-7.

The effect of improving the thermal quality of cold housing on

blood pressure and general health: a research note.

Lloyd EL, McCormack C, McKeever M, Syme M.

72 Belgrave Road, Edinburgh EH12 6NQ, UK. evlloyd@...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of improving the thermal quality

of housing on blood pressure (BP) and general health. DESIGN: A before

and after study comparing the changes of the intervention with

controls. SETTING: Four blocks of flats in the Easthall area of

Easterhouse in Glasgow. PARTICIPANTS: Residents of the four blocks who

agreed to participate. INTERVENTION: Two blocks of flats were upgraded

from being cold, damp and mouldy to being comfortably warm, dry and

mould free throughout. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in BP, general

health and financial status. RESULTS: In the intervention subjects,

systolic and diastolic blood pressures fell very significantly

(p<0.000). There was also an improvement in general health as reported

subjectively, and as indicated by a reduction in the use of medication

and in hospital admissions. In addition, there was a markedly reduced

expenditure on heating costs and other previous expenses. There were

no changes in the control subjects in any of these measures.

CONCLUSION: Improving the thermal quality of housing to eliminate damp

and mould and produce a comfortable temperature throughout the house

has a major impact on the health of the residents. There are also

financial benefits for the residents, and indirectly for the NHS.

Publication Types:

* Evaluation Studies

* Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 18701729 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]