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Wang D, Wang Y, Liu Q, Sun W, Wei L, Ye C, Zhu R. Association of Air Pollution with the Number of Common Respiratory Visits in Children in a Heavily Polluted Central City, China. TOXICS 2023; 11:815. [PMID: 37888666 PMCID: PMC10610878 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11100815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Children's respiratory health is vulnerable to air pollution. Based on data collected from June 2019 to June 2022 at a children's hospital in Zhengzhou, China, this study utilized Spearman correlation analysis and a generalized additive model (GAM) to examine the relationship between daily visits for common respiratory issues in children and air pollutant concentrations. Results show that the number of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), pneumonia (PNMN), bronchitis (BCT), and bronchiolitis (BCLT) visits in children showed a positive correlation with PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO while exhibiting a negative correlation with temperature and relative humidity. The highest increases in PNMN visits in children were observed at lag 07 for NO2, SO2, and CO. A rise of 10 μg/m3 in NO2, 1 μg/m3 in SO2, and 0.1 mg/m3 in CO corresponded to an increase of 9.7%, 2.91%, and 5.16% in PNMN visits, respectively. The effects of air pollutants on the number of BCT and BCLT visits were more pronounced in boys compared to girls, whereas no significant differences were observed in the number of URTI and PNMN visits based on sex. Overall, air pollutants significantly affect the prevalence of respiratory diseases in children, and it is crucial to improve air quality to protect the children's respiratory health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Emergency Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450014, China; (D.W.); (Q.L.); (C.Y.)
- Emergency Department, Maternal and Child Care Service Centre of Henan, Zhengzhou 450014, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.W.); (W.S.)
| | - Qianqian Liu
- Emergency Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450014, China; (D.W.); (Q.L.); (C.Y.)
- Emergency Department, Maternal and Child Care Service Centre of Henan, Zhengzhou 450014, China
| | - Wenxin Sun
- School of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.W.); (W.S.)
| | - Liangkui Wei
- Emergency Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450014, China; (D.W.); (Q.L.); (C.Y.)
- Emergency Department, Maternal and Child Care Service Centre of Henan, Zhengzhou 450014, China
| | - Chengxin Ye
- Emergency Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450014, China; (D.W.); (Q.L.); (C.Y.)
- Emergency Department, Maternal and Child Care Service Centre of Henan, Zhengzhou 450014, China
| | - Rencheng Zhu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.W.); (W.S.)
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Maio S, Fasola S, Marcon A, Angino A, Baldacci S, Bilò MB, Bono R, La Grutta S, Marchetti P, Sarno G, Squillacioti G, Stanisci I, Pirina P, Tagliaferro S, Verlato G, Villani S, Gariazzo C, Stafoggia M, Viegi G. Relationship of long-term air pollution exposure with asthma and rhinitis in Italy: an innovative multipollutant approach. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 224:115455. [PMID: 36791835 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND air pollution is a complex mixture; novel multipollutant approaches could help understanding the health effects of multiple concomitant exposures to air pollutants. AIM to assess the relationship of long-term air pollution exposure with the prevalence of respiratory/allergic symptoms and diseases in an Italian multicenter study using single and multipollutant approaches. METHODS 14420 adults living in 6 Italian cities (Ancona, Pavia, Pisa, Sassari, Turin, Verona) were investigated in 2005-2011 within 11 different study cohorts. Questionnaire information about risk factors and health outcomes was collected. Machine learning derived mean annual concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and mean summer concentrations of O3 (μg/m3) at residential level (1-km resolution) were used for the period 2013-2015. The associations between the four pollutants and respiratory/allergic symptoms/diseases were assessed using two approaches: a) logistic regression models (single-pollutant models), b) principal component logistic regression models (multipollutant models). All the models were adjusted for age, sex, education level, smoking habits, season of interview, climatic index and included a random intercept for cohorts. RESULTS the three-year average (± standard deviation) pollutants concentrations at residential level were: 20.3 ± 6.8 μg/m3 for PM2.5, 29.2 ± 7.0 μg/m3 for PM10, 28.0 ± 11.2 μg/m3 for NO2, and 70.9 ± 4.3 μg/m3 for summer O3. Through the multipollutant models the following associations emerged: PM10 and PM2.5 were related to 14-25% increased odds of rhinitis, 23-34% of asthma and 30-33% of night awakening; NO2 was related to 6-9% increased odds of rhinitis, 7-8% of asthma and 12% of night awakening; O3 was associated with 37% increased odds of asthma attacks. Overall, the Odds Ratios estimated through the multipollutant models were attenuated when compared to those of the single-pollutant models. CONCLUSIONS this study enabled to obtain new information about the health effects of air pollution on respiratory/allergic outcomes in adults, applying innovative methods for exposure assessment and multipollutant analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Maio
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Salvatore Fasola
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marcon
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Anna Angino
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sandra Baldacci
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Beatrice Bilò
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; Allergy Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy
| | - Roberto Bono
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Stefania La Grutta
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Palermo, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Marchetti
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Sarno
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Squillacioti
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Ilaria Stanisci
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Pietro Pirina
- Respiratory Unit, Sassari University, Sassari, Italy
| | - Sofia Tagliaferro
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Verlato
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Simona Villani
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudio Gariazzo
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Roma, Italy
| | - Massimo Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Viegi
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
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Xue Q, Zou M, Guo J, Teng Q, Zhang Q, Sheng L, Xu S, Fang C, Yao N, Li Y, Zhao J. Detection and assessment of dust mite allergens in an indoor environment in Anhui, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:3045-3055. [PMID: 35941504 PMCID: PMC9892137 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22395-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Dust in the home environment is thought to be a potential trigger for increasing allergic diseases, such as allergic rash, rhinitis, asthma, and other conditions, associated with dust mites. To verify the status of dust mite prevalence in indoor surroundings, we collected 189 dust samples from the air conditioner filters (n = 75) and floors (n = 114) of households, schools, and hotels in the Anhui area, China. All samples were measured for dust mite breeding rate and breeding density under light microscopy and analyzed for dust mite species Dermatophagoides farinae 1 (Der f 1) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 1 (Der p 1) allergen using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The dust mite breeding rates were 34.67% (26/75) and 20.18% (23/114), respectively, in the dust samples from the floor and air conditioning filters. The breeding density was the highest in households (10/g), followed by schools (9/g) and hotels (4/g). ELISA indicated that the allergen threshold (2.0 µg/g dust) of Der f 1 was exceeded in only two samples and Der p 1 in one sample. Additionally, a questionnaire was used to investigate the health knowledge on allergic diseases involved in indoor facilities, finding that most allergy sufferers were aware that indoor dust might be responsible for their conditions. The findings suggest that regular maintenance of indoor hygiene and cleaning of air-conditioning filters should reduce the risks of exposure to indoor allergens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Xue
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Wannan Medical College, WuhuAnhui, 241002, China
| | - Minghui Zou
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Wannan Medical College, WuhuAnhui, 241002, China
| | - Junjie Guo
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Qiqihar Medical College, QiqiharHeilongjiang, 161000, China
| | - Qiao Teng
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Wannan Medical College, WuhuAnhui, 241002, China
| | - Qiqi Zhang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, WuhuAnhui, 241002, China
| | - Lingwei Sheng
- Medical Laboratory Science, Wannan Medical College, WuhuAnhui, 241002, China
| | - Sijia Xu
- Medical Laboratory Science, Wannan Medical College, WuhuAnhui, 241002, China
| | - Can Fang
- School of Public Health, Wannan Medical College, WuhuAnhui, 241002, China
| | - Ning Yao
- School of Public Health, Wannan Medical College, WuhuAnhui, 241002, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Wannan Medical College, WuhuAnhui, 241002, China
| | - Jinhong Zhao
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Wannan Medical College, WuhuAnhui, 241002, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biological Macromlecules Research, Wannan Medical College, WuhuAnhui, 241002, China.
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Marques-da-Silva D, Videira PA, Lagoa R. Registered human trials addressing environmental and occupational toxicant exposures: Scoping review of immunological markers and protective strategies. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 93:103886. [PMID: 35598754 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2022.103886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to pollution is a worldwide societal challenge participating in the etiology and progression of different diseases. However, the scarce information hinders our understanding of the actual level of human exposure and its specific effects. Inadequate and excessive immune responses underlie diverse chronic diseases. Yet, it is unclear which and how toxicant exposures affect the immune system functions. There is a multiplicity of immunological outcomes and biomarkers being studied in human trials related to exposure to different toxicants but still without clear evidence of their value as biomarkers of exposure or effect. The main aim of this study was to collect scientific evidence and identify relevant immunological biomarkers used at the clinical level for toxicant exposures. We used the platform clinical trials.gov as a database tool. First, we performed a search combining research items related to toxicants and immunological parameters. The resulting117 clinical trials were examined for immune-related outcomes and specific biomarkers evaluated in subjects exposed to occupational and environmental toxicants. After categorization, relevant immunological outcomes and biomarkers were identified related to systemic and airway inflammation, modulation of immune cells, allergy and autoimmunity. In general, the immune markers related to inflammation are more frequently investigated for exposure to pollutants, namely IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP) and nitric oxide (NO). Nevertheless, the data also indicated that prospective biomarkers of effect are gaining ground and a guiding representation of the established and novel biomarkers is suggested for upcoming trials. Finally, potential protective strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of specific toxicants are underlined for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorinda Marques-da-Silva
- School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal; LSRE-LCM - Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials, Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal; ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Paula Alexandra Videira
- UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Lagoa
- School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
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Yang J, Ma S, Song Y, Li F, Zhou J. Rethinking of Environmental Health Risks: A Systematic Approach of Physical-Social Health Vulnerability Assessment on Heavy-Metal Exposure through Soil and Vegetables. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182413379. [PMID: 34948988 PMCID: PMC8702039 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In the field of environmental health risk assessment and management research, heavy metals in soil are a constant focus, largely because of mining and metallurgical activities, and other manufacturing or producing. However, systematic vulnerability, and combined research of social and physical vulnerability of the crowd, have received less attention in the research literature of environmental health risk assessment. For this reason, tentative design modelling for comprehensive environmental health vulnerability, which includes the index of physical and social vulnerability, was conducted here. On the basis of experimental data of heavy-metal pollution in soil and vegetables, and population and societal survey data in Daye, China, the physical, social, and comprehensive environmental health vulnerabilities of the area were analyzed, with each village as an evaluation unit. First, the polluted and reference areas were selected. Random sampling sites were distributed in the farmland of the villages in these two areas, with two sampling sites per village. Then, 204 vegetable samples were directly collected from the farmland from which the soil samples had been collected, composed of seven kinds of vegetables: cowpea, water spinach, amaranth, sweet potato leaves, tomato, eggplant, and pepper. Moreover, 400 questionnaires were given to the local residents in these corresponding villages, and 389 valid responses were obtained. The results indicated that (1) the average physical vulnerability values of the population in the polluted and reference areas were 3.99 and 1.00, respectively; (2) the village of Weiwang (WW) had the highest physical vulnerability of 8.55; (3) vegetable intake is exposure that should be paid more attention, as it contributes more than 90% to physical vulnerability among the exposure pathways; (4) arsenic and cadmium should be the priority pollutants, with average physical vulnerability value contributions of 63.9% and 17.0%, respectively; (5) according to the social vulnerability assessment, the village of Luoqiao (LQ) had the highest social vulnerability (0.77); (6) for comprehensive environmental health vulnerability, five villages near mining activities and two villages far from mine-affected area had high physical and social vulnerability, and are the urgent areas for environmental risk management. In order to promote environmental risk management, it is necessary to prioritize identifying vulnerable populations in the village-scale dimension as an innovative discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yang
- Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economic and Law, Wuhan 430073, China; (J.Y.); (Y.S.); (F.L.)
| | - Silu Ma
- Wuhan Planning and Design Company, Wuhan 430014, China;
| | - Yongwei Song
- Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economic and Law, Wuhan 430073, China; (J.Y.); (Y.S.); (F.L.)
| | - Fei Li
- Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economic and Law, Wuhan 430073, China; (J.Y.); (Y.S.); (F.L.)
| | - Jingcheng Zhou
- Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economic and Law, Wuhan 430073, China; (J.Y.); (Y.S.); (F.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-027-8838-5413
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Stas M, Aerts R, Hendrickx M, Delcloo A, Dendoncker N, Dujardin S, Linard C, Nawrot T, Van Nieuwenhuyse A, Aerts JM, Van Orshoven J, Somers B. Exposure to green space and pollen allergy symptom severity: A case-crossover study in Belgium. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 781:146682. [PMID: 33812114 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of pollen allergy has increased due to urbanization, climate change and air pollution. The effects of green space and air pollution on respiratory health of pollen allergy patients are complex and best studied in spatio-temporal detail. METHODS We tracked 144 adults sensitized to Betulaceae pollen during the tree pollen season (January-May) of 2017 and 2018 and assessed their spatio-temporal exposure to green space, allergenic trees, air pollutants and birch pollen. Participants reported daily symptom severity scores. We extracted 404 case days with high symptom severity scores and matched these to 404 control days. The data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression with a 1:1 case-crossover design. RESULTS Case days were associated with exposure to birch pollen concentration (100 grains/m3) [adjusted odds ratio 1.045 and 95% confidence interval (1.014-1.078)], O3 concentration (10 μg/m3) [1.504 (1.281-1.766)] and PM10 concentration (10 μg/m3) [1.255 (1.007-1.565)] on the day of the severe allergy event and with the cumulative exposure of one and two days before. Exposure to grass cover (10% area fraction) [0.655 (0.446-0.960)], forest cover (10% area fraction) [0.543 (0.303-0.973)] and density of Alnus (10%) [0.622 (0.411-0.942)] were protective for severe allergy, but only on the day of the severe allergy event. Increased densities of Betula trees (10%) were a risk factor [unadjusted OR: 2.014 (1.162-3.490)]. CONCLUSION Exposure to green space may mitigate tree pollen allergy symptom severity but only when the density of allergenic trees is low. Air pollutants contribute to more severe allergy symptoms. Spatio-temporal tracking allows for a more realistic exposure assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel Stas
- Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E-2411, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Measure, Model & Manage Bioresponses (M3-BIORES), Division Animal and Human Health Engineering, Department of Biosystems (BIOSYST), KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30-2472, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Raf Aerts
- Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E-2411, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Risk and Health Impact Assessment, Sciensano (Belgian Institute of Health), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Division Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Conservation, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31-3245, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Center for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan Gebouw D, B-3590 Hasselt, Belgium; Mycology and Aerobiology, Sciensano (Belgian Institute of Health), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Marijke Hendrickx
- Mycology and Aerobiology, Sciensano (Belgian Institute of Health), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Andy Delcloo
- Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, Ringlaan 3 Avenue Circulaire, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Nicolas Dendoncker
- Department of Geography, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium; Institute for Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE), University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium.
| | - Sebastien Dujardin
- Department of Geography, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium; Institute for Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE), University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium.
| | - Catherine Linard
- Department of Geography, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium; Institute for Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE), University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium.
| | - Tim Nawrot
- Center for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan Gebouw D, B-3590 Hasselt, Belgium; Centre Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35 blok d box 7001, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - An Van Nieuwenhuyse
- Centre Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35 blok d box 7001, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), 1, Rue Louis Rech, L-3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg.
| | - Jean-Marie Aerts
- Measure, Model & Manage Bioresponses (M3-BIORES), Division Animal and Human Health Engineering, Department of Biosystems (BIOSYST), KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30-2472, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Jos Van Orshoven
- Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E-2411, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Ben Somers
- Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E-2411, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
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Sharma K, Ravindra K, Mor S, Kaur-Sidhu M, Sehgal R. Detection and identification of dust mite allergens in the air conditioning filters in Chandigarh, India. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:24262-24271. [PMID: 31228070 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05574-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Modern lifestyle with the increasing use of air conditioner (AC) has been linked with breathing difficulties, irritation, dryness, and other symptoms. Hence, dust mites were isolated from AC filters, which causes allergic diseases. A total of 95 dust samples were collected from AC filters from hospitals, guest house, office, school, and homes in Chandigarh, India. The highest concentration of dust mites was detected from hospitals (9/g), offices (7/g), households (6/g), guest houses (3/g), and schools (0/g). Based on the morphology of dust mites observed under a light microscope, Dermatophagoides and Acarus species were found most common. Indoor air quality was also monitored to find out their relation with dust mites present in AC filters. Further, the respiratory health status of indoor facility users was also assessed using a standard questionnaire as a study tool. It was seen that 55.3% of male among the total respondents were having an allergy and only 44.7% of the females had an allergy. The allergy among the male respondents (55.3%) was significantly more (p < 0.05) in comparison with female respondents (44.7%). Some of the respondents also reported a family history of rhinitis (31.9%), asthma (12.8%), recurrent urticaria (6.4%), and conjunctivitis (6.4%). Interestingly, 23.4% of study participants reported that they get disturbed by the use of AC and house dust was found to be the most triggering factor in enhancing the symptoms of allergy. Thus, it is recommended that air conditioner filters should be cleaned regularly to prevent the accumulation of the dust mites and related allergens on filter dust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kashika Sharma
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Khaiwal Ravindra
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India.
| | - Suman Mor
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Maninder Kaur-Sidhu
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Rakesh Sehgal
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
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