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Huang HC, Zou ML, Chen YH, Jiang CB, Wu CD, Lung SCC, Chien LC, Lo YC, Chao HJ. Effects of indoor air quality and home environmental characteristics on allergic diseases among preschool children in the Greater Taipei Area. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 897:165392. [PMID: 37423284 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Indoor air quality and home environmental characteristics are potential factors associated with the onset and exacerbation of allergic diseases. Our study examined the effects of these factors on allergic diseases (i.e., asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis) among preschool children. We recruited a total of 120 preschool children from an ongoing birth cohort study in the Greater Taipei Area. A comprehensive environmental evaluation was conducted at each participant's residence and included measurements of indoor and outdoor air pollutants, fungal spores, endotoxins, and house dust mite allergens. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the allergic diseases and home environments of participants. Land-use characteristics and points of interest in the surrounding area of each home were analyzed. Other covariates were obtained from the cohort data. Multiple logistic regressions were used to examine the relationships between allergic diseases and covariates. We observed that all mean indoor air pollutant levels were below Taiwan's indoor air quality standards. After adjustment for covariates, the total number of fungal spores and the ozone, Der f 1, and endotoxin levels were significantly associated with increased risks of allergic diseases. Biological contaminants more significantly affected allergic diseases than other pollutants. Moreover, home environmental characteristics (e.g., living near power facilities and gas stations) were associated with an increased risk of allergic diseases. Regular and proper home sanitation is recommended to prevent the accumulation of indoor pollutants, especially biological contaminants. Living away from potential sources of pollution is also crucial for protecting the health of children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao-Chun Huang
- School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Lun Zou
- School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hua Chen
- School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chuen-Bin Jiang
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Da Wu
- Department of Geomatics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Innovation and Development Center of Sustainable Agriculture, National Chung Hsing University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | | | - Ling-Chu Chien
- School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chun Lo
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Program in Medical Neuroscience, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsing Jasmine Chao
- School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Abstract
The world population is ageing, in particular in the developed world, with a significant increase in the percentage of people above 60 years old. They represent a segment of the population that is more vulnerable to adverse environmental conditions. Among them, indoor air quality is one of the most relevant, as elders spend comparatively more time indoors than younger generations. Furthermore, the recent COVID-19 pandemic contributed immensely to raising awareness of the importance of breathing air quality for human health and of the fact that indoor air is a vector for airborne infections and poisoning. Hence, this work reviews the state of the art regarding indoor air quality in elderly centers, considering the type of pollutants involved, their emission sources, and their health effects. Moreover, the influence of ventilation on air quality is also addressed. Notwithstanding the potential health problems with the corresponding costs and morbidity effects, only a few studies have considered explicitly indoor air quality and its impacts on elderly health. More studies are, therefore, necessary to objectively identify what are the impacts on the health of elderly people due to the quality of indoor air and how it can be improved, either by reducing the pollutants emission sources or by more adequate ventilation and thermal comfort strategies.
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Van Engelen TSR, Yang J, Haak BW, Bonta PI, Van Der Poll T, Wiersinga WJ. Gut Microbiome Modulation by Antibiotics in Adult Asthma: A Human Proof-of-Concept Intervention Trial. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 20:1404-1407.e4. [PMID: 34303860 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although the pathophysiology of asthma is complex, perturbation of the gut microbiota has been associated with an increased risk of asthma development in childhood.1 Disruption and subsequent dysregulation of gut microbiota-related immunologic processes have also been linked to disease severity and response to treatment.2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjitske S R Van Engelen
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Jack Yang
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bastiaan W Haak
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter I Bonta
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tom Van Der Poll
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious disease, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W Joost Wiersinga
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious disease, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Khan M, Muhmood K, Noureen S, Mahmood HZ, Amir-Ud-Din R. Epidemiology of respiratory diseases and associated factors among female textile workers in Pakistan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS 2022; 28:184-198. [PMID: 32602797 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2020.1751973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Objective. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of byssinosis and other respiratory symptoms among women textile workers and the associated risk factors in 18 spinning mills of Faisalabad and Lahore districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Method. In this case-control study of 1054 female workers, we used the dose-response function to measure the association between dust level and respiratory disorders in cotton textile workers. Results. Working overtime and long working hours per week are significantly associated with self-reported symptoms of byssinosis. Women's age, marital status and wages were significantly associated with mitigating actions (seeing the doctor), while the education of the women was significantly associated with averting action (use of a mask). Conclusion. Regulating working hours and ensuring employees' compliance with the safety standards are expected to mitigate the health problems of female workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Khan
- Department of Economics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Kashif Muhmood
- Department of Economics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan
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Degois J, Veillette M, Poulin P, Lévesque B, Aubin D, Ouazia B, Brisson M, Maltais F, Duchaine C. Indoor air quality assessment in dwellings with different ventilation strategies in Nunavik and impacts on bacterial and fungal microbiota. INDOOR AIR 2021; 31:2213-2225. [PMID: 34048604 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Indoor air quality is a major issue for public health, particularly in northern communities. In this extreme environment, adequate ventilation is crucial to provide a healthier indoor environment, especially in airtight dwellings. The main objective of the study is to assess the impact of ventilation systems and their optimization on microbial communities in bioaerosols and dust in 54 dwellings in Nunavik. Dwellings with three ventilation strategies (without mechanical ventilators, with heat recovery ventilators, and with energy recovery ventilators) were investigated before and after optimization of the ventilation systems. Indoor environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity) and microbiological parameters (total bacteria, Aspergillus/Penicillium, endotoxin, and microbial biodiversity) were measured. Dust samples were collected in closed face cassettes with a polycarbonate filter using a micro-vacuum while a volume of 20 m3 of bioaerosols were collected on filters using a SASS3100 (airflow of 300 L/min). In bioaerosols, the median number of copies was 4.01 × 103 copies/m3 of air for total bacteria and 1.45 × 101 copies/m3 for Aspergillus/Penicillium. Median concentrations were 5.13 × 104 copies/mg of dust, 5.07 × 101 copies/mg, 9.98 EU/mg for total bacteria, Aspergillus/Penicillium and endotoxin concentrations, respectively. The main microorganisms were associated with human occupancy such as skin-related bacteria or yeasts, regardless of the type of ventilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodelle Degois
- Département de Biochimie, Microbiologie et Bio-Informatique, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada
- CRIUCPQ, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada
| | | | - Patrick Poulin
- Direction de la santé Environnementale et de la Toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ, Québec, Qc, Canada
| | - Benoit Lévesque
- Direction de la santé Environnementale et de la Toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ, Québec, Qc, Canada
| | - Daniel Aubin
- Centre de Recherches en Construction (CRC, Conseil national de recherches Canada (CNRC, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Boualem Ouazia
- Centre de Recherches en Construction (CRC, Conseil national de recherches Canada (CNRC, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mario Brisson
- Régie Régionale de la Santé et des Services Sociaux du Nunavik, Kuujjuaq, Qc, Canada
| | | | - Caroline Duchaine
- Département de Biochimie, Microbiologie et Bio-Informatique, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada
- CRIUCPQ, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada
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Dahlman-Höglund A, Schiöler L, Andersson M, Mattsby-Baltzer I, Lindgren Å. Endotoxin in Aerosol Particles from Metalworking Fluids Measured with a Sioutas Cascade Impactor. Ann Work Expo Health 2021; 66:260-268. [PMID: 34595500 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxab077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to characterize personal occupational exposure to endotoxin in size-separated airborne particles of MWF aerosol, using a Sioutas cascade impactor (SCI). METHODS Exposure to inhalable fractions of MWF aerosol and endotoxin was measured by personal sampling of 52 individuals over an 8-h work shift using a PAS-6 sampler in parallel with a SCI (<0.25, 0.25-0.5, 0.5-1.0, 1.0-2.5, and 2.5-10 µm). Aerosol mass concentration was measured for each worker with a real-time instrument (DataRAM) during a full shift. Samples of MWF were collected from the machines and central tanks during the work shift. RESULTS A total of 117 measurements of inhalable MWF aerosols were made among 52 workers. The geometric mean of inhalable MWF aerosol was 0.16 mg m-3 air. The geometric mean of endotoxin concentration on the inhalable sampler was 0.15 EU m-3. Airborne endotoxin was found on all size fractions from the impactor, with the major part seen in the fraction (2.5-10 µm). There was a correlation between the inhalable fraction of endotoxin measured by the PAS-6 sampler and on the SCI sampler (2.5-10 µm), estimated to be 0.51 for all samples (P < 0.0001). The concentration of endotoxin varied between the MWFs, as did the proportion of Gram-negative bacteria among the culturable bacteria (>80% in one MWF and <1.5% in the other three). CONCLUSIONS The personal exposure to inhalable fractions of endotoxin contained in the MWF aerosol were low, where most of the endotoxin were found in fraction (2.5-10 µm), measured by SCI. There are differences between factories and MWF systems regarding the distribution of endotoxin and so results from one context should not be generalized to other plants and systems. Compressed air was used for less than 10 min shift-1. The mixed-effect model showed that working with open machines and grinding as cutting task were important determinants of exposure to inhalable aerosol. It is important to keep occupational exposure to aerosols low with the help of good ventilation systems, enclosed machines, and organization of work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Dahlman-Höglund
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Medicinaregatan 16A, 413 90 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Linus Schiöler
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Medicinaregatan 16A, 413 90 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Marianne Andersson
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Medicinaregatan 16A, 413 90 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Inger Mattsby-Baltzer
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Clinical Bacteriology, University of Göteborg, Guldhedsgatan 10, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Åsa Lindgren
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Clinical Bacteriology, University of Göteborg, Guldhedsgatan 10, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.,Department of Microbiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Medicinaregatan 16A, 413 90 Göteborg, Sweden
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Mannan M, Al-Ghamdi SG. Indoor Air Quality in Buildings: A Comprehensive Review on the Factors Influencing Air Pollution in Residential and Commercial Structure. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:3276. [PMID: 33810001 PMCID: PMC8004912 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18063276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Worldwide people tend to spend approximately 90% of their time in different indoor environments. Along with the penetration of outside air pollutants, contaminants are produced in indoor environments due to different activities such as heating, cooling, cooking, and emissions from building products and the materials used. As people spend most of their lives in indoor environments, this has a significant influence on human health and productivity. Despite the two decades of indoor air quality (IAQ) research from different perspectives, there is still a lack of comprehensive evaluation of peer-reviewed IAQ studies that specifically covers the relationship between the internal characteristics of different types of building environments with IAQ to help understand the progress and limitations of IAQ research worldwide. Therefore, this review of scientific studies presents a broad spectrum of pollutants identified in both residential and commercial indoor environments, highlighting the trends and gaps in IAQ research. Moreover, analysis of literature data enabled us to assess the different IAQs in buildings located in different countries/regions, thus reflecting the current global scientific understanding of IAQ. This review has the potential to benefit building professionals by establishing indoor air regulations that account for all indoor contaminant sources to create healthy and sustainable building environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sami G. Al-Ghamdi
- Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar;
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Vijayakumar R, Abdulaziz Alfaiz F, Al-Malki ES, Sandle T. Assessment of airborne endotoxin in sandstorm dust and indoor environments using a novel passive sampling device in Al Zulfi city, Saudi Arabia - Establishing threshold exposure levels. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:1257-1266. [PMID: 33613055 PMCID: PMC7878821 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of sandstorm dust events affects local air quality and public health. These issues are becoming of greater concern in Saudi Arabia. There is a significant lack of research on airborne endotoxin exposure and analysis in the Middle East countries and no coherent body of research exists focusing on sandstorm dust in worldwide. In this study, we used a novel design of an aluminum foil plate (AFP) electrostatic dust cloth (EDC) for the passive air sampling of sandstorm dust. A total of 38 sandstorm dust samples were collected during sandstorm episodes occurring between January and April 2020 in both indoor (7 days, n = 20) and outdoor environments (24 h, n = 18). After exposure, and following an extraction procedure, bacterial endotoxin levels were measured using the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) gel clot method. The study highlights that the airborne endotoxin level observed was between 10 and 200 EU/m2 in both indoor and outdoor environments, during a sandstorm event. Agricultural activities and farmhouses observed higher airborne endotoxin levels. In general, increased endotoxin levels were related to the severity of the sandstorms. Given that the observed values were high as per existing guidelines for respiratory health, we recommend the setting an occupational airborne exposure limit for bacterial endotoxin. This is the first report and further studies across various sandstorm-hit regions will need to be undertaken, together with various sampling methods, in order to assess for seasonal and geographic trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendran Vijayakumar
- Department of Biology, College of Science in Zulfi, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
- Corresponding author at: Department of Biology, College of Science in Zulfi, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Faiz Abdulaziz Alfaiz
- Department of Biology, College of Science in Zulfi, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Esam S. Al-Malki
- Department of Biology, College of Science in Zulfi, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tim Sandle
- Head of Microbiology, Risk Management and Sterility Assurance, Bio Products Laboratory, Elstree, United Kingdom
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Roy R, Jan R, Joshi U, Bhor R, Pai K, Satsangi PG. Characterization, pro-inflammatory response and cytotoxic profile of bioaerosols from urban and rural residential settings in Pune, India. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 264:114698. [PMID: 32387676 PMCID: PMC7190302 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microbiota associated with airborne particulate matter (PM) is an important indicator of indoor pollution as they can be pathogenic and cause serious health threats to the exposed occupants. Present study aimed to investigate the level of culturable microbes associated with PM and their toxicological characterization in urban and rural houses of Pune city. Highest concentration of bacterial aerosols observed to be associated with PM10 size fraction in urban site (2136 ± 285 CFU/m3) whereas maximum fungal concentration has been measured in rural houses (1521 ± 302 CFU/m3). Predominantly found bacterial species were Bacillus sp., S. aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and fungal species were Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp., and Penicillium sp. in both urban and rural residential premises. Concentration of endotoxin measured using the kinetic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay exhibited that the level of endotoxin in both urban and rural sites are associated with household characteristics and the activities performed in indoor as well as outdoor. Cell free DTT assay confirmed the ability of these airborne microbes to induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) varying along with the types of microorganisms. On exposure of A549 cells to airborne microbes, a significant decrease in cell viability was observed in terms of both necrosis and apoptosis pathway. Elevated production of nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory cytokines in epithelial cells and macrophages clearly suggest the inflammatory nature of these airborne microbes. Results derived from the present study demonstrated that the indoor air of urban and rural houses of Pune is contaminated in terms of microbial load. Therefore, attention should be paid to control the factors favoring the microbial growth in order to safeguard the health of exposed inhabitants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritwika Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University (Formerly University of Pune), Pune, 411007, India
| | - Rohi Jan
- Department of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University (Formerly University of Pune), Pune, 411007, India
| | - Uttara Joshi
- Department of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University (Formerly University of Pune), Pune, 411007, India
| | - Renuka Bhor
- Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University (Formerly University of Pune), Pune, 411007, India
| | - Kalpana Pai
- Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University (Formerly University of Pune), Pune, 411007, India
| | - P Gursumeeran Satsangi
- Department of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University (Formerly University of Pune), Pune, 411007, India.
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Buckley JP, Barrett ES, Beamer PI, Bennett DH, Bloom MS, Fennell TR, Fry RC, Funk WE, Hamra GB, Hecht SS, Kannan K, Iyer R, Karagas MR, Lyall K, Parsons PJ, Pellizzari ED, Signes-Pastor AJ, Starling AP, Wang A, Watkins DJ, Zhang M, Woodruff TJ. Opportunities for evaluating chemical exposures and child health in the United States: the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2020; 30:397-419. [PMID: 32066883 PMCID: PMC7183426 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-020-0211-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program will evaluate environmental factors affecting children's health (perinatal, neurodevelopmental, obesity, respiratory, and positive health outcomes) by pooling cohorts composed of >50,000 children in the largest US study of its kind. Our objective was to identify opportunities for studying chemicals and child health using existing or future ECHO chemical exposure data. We described chemical-related information collected by ECHO cohorts and reviewed ECHO-relevant literature on exposure routes, sources, and environmental and human monitoring. Fifty-six ECHO cohorts have existing or planned chemical biomonitoring data for mothers or children. Environmental phenols/parabens, phthalates, metals/metalloids, and tobacco biomarkers are each being measured by ≥15 cohorts, predominantly during pregnancy and childhood, indicating ample opportunities to study child health outcomes. Cohorts are collecting questionnaire data on multiple exposure sources and conducting environmental monitoring including air, dust, and water sample collection that could be used for exposure assessment studies. To supplement existing chemical data, we recommend biomonitoring of emerging chemicals, nontargeted analysis to identify novel chemicals, and expanded measurement of chemicals in alternative biological matrices and dust samples. ECHO's rich data and samples represent an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate environmental chemical research to improve the health of US children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie P Buckley
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Emily S Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Paloma I Beamer
- Department of Community, Environment and Policy, Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Deborah H Bennett
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Michael S Bloom
- Departments of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Timothy R Fennell
- Discovery Sciences, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - William E Funk
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ghassan B Hamra
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephen S Hecht
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Ramsunder Iyer
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Kristen Lyall
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Patrick J Parsons
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Edo D Pellizzari
- Fellows Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Anne P Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Aolin Wang
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Deborah J Watkins
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mingyu Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tracey J Woodruff
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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11
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Guo J, Xiong Y, Kang T, Xiang Z, Qin C. Bacterial community analysis of floor dust and HEPA filters in air purifiers used in office rooms in ILAS, Beijing. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6417. [PMID: 32286482 PMCID: PMC7156680 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63543-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Air purifiers with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters remove not only particulate matter but also airborne microorganisms in indoor environments. We investigated the bacterial community in HEPA filters (used for 1 year) and that in the floor dust of 12 office rooms in Beijing. We found that the viable bacteria proportion in the filter was significantly higher than that in the floor dust (p < 0.001). The Non-Metric Multi-Dimensional Scaling analysis showed that the bacterial communities in the filters and dust were significantly different (p = 0.001). The Chao1, Shannon-Wiener and phylogenetic diversity values in the filter were significantly higher than those in the dust (p < 0.001). The predominant bacterial classes in the filter were Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria, whereas those in the dust were Bacteroidia, Clostridia and Bacilli. Human occupancy contributed more to the bacterial community in the filter than that in the dust. Klebsiella and Alloprevotella in the dust and filters positively correlated with the occupancy density. Soil bacteria contributed to a significantly higher proportion of the bacteria in the HEPA filter (p < 0.001). In contrast, human oral, indoor air and outdoor haze contributed to a higher proportion of the bacteria in the dust samples (p < 0.001, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). As HEPA filters serve as an ecological niche for indoor bacteria, they should be carefully investigated during the assessment of indoor environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Guo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, CAMS&PUMC, Beijing, 100021, China
- Key Laboratory of Human Diseases Animal Model, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yi Xiong
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Taisheng Kang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, CAMS&PUMC, Beijing, 100021, China
- Key Laboratory of Human Diseases Animal Model, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Zhiguang Xiang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, CAMS&PUMC, Beijing, 100021, China
- Key Laboratory of Human Diseases Animal Model, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Chuan Qin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, CAMS&PUMC, Beijing, 100021, China.
- Key Laboratory of Human Diseases Animal Model, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100021, China.
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12
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Mendy A, Wilkerson J, Salo PM, Zeldin DC, Thorne PS. Endotoxin clustering with allergens in house dust and asthma outcomes in a U.S. national study. Environ Health 2020; 19:35. [PMID: 32178682 PMCID: PMC7077112 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00585-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endotoxin is ubiquitous in the environment, but its clustering with indoor allergens is not well characterized. This study examined the clustering patterns of endotoxin with allergens in house dust and their association with asthma outcomes. METHODS We analyzed data from 6963 participants of the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. House dust sampled from bedroom floor and bedding was evaluated for endotoxin and allergens from fungi, cockroach, dog, cat, mites, and rodents. Two-step cluster analysis and logistic regressions were performed to identify the clustering patterns and their associations with current asthma and wheeze in the past 12 months, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS Of the homes, 17.8% had low endotoxin and allergen levels in house dust (Cluster 1). High endotoxin level clustered with Alternaria and pet allergens in the homes of participants with a high socioeconomic status who own pets (Cluster 2) (48.9%). High endotoxin clustered with Aspergillus, dust mites, cockroach, and rodent allergens in the homes of participants with low socioeconomic status (Cluster 3) (33.3%). Compared to Cluster 1, Cluster 2 was associated with higher asthma prevalence (OR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.06-1.91) and wheeze (OR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.07-1.63). Cluster 3 was positively associated with wheeze only in participants sensitized to inhalant allergens (OR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.06-1.91) or exposed to tobacco smoke (OR 1.72, 95% CI: 1.15-2.60). CONCLUSIONS The clustering of endotoxin with allergens in dust from homes with pets or of people with low socioeconomic status is associated with asthma and wheeze.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelico Mendy
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Pӓivi M Salo
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Darryl C Zeldin
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Peter S Thorne
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
- University of Iowa College of Public Health, 100 CPHB, S341A, 145 N Riverside Dr, Iowa City, IA, 52242-2207, USA.
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Viegas C, Almeida B, Monteiro A, Paciência I, Rufo J, Aguiar L, Lage B, Diogo Gonçalves LM, Caetano LA, Carolino E, Gomes AQ, Twarużek M, Kosicki R, Grajewski J, Teixeira JP, Viegas S, Pereira C. Exposure assessment in one central hospital: A multi-approach protocol to achieve an accurate risk characterization. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 181:108947. [PMID: 31767353 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The bioburden in a Hospital building originates not only from patients, visitors and staff, but is also disseminated by several indoor hospital characteristics and outdoor environmental sources. This study intends to assess the exposure to bioburden in one central Hospital with a multi-approach protocol using active and passive sampling methods. The microbial contamination was also characterized through molecular tools for toxigenic species, antifungal resistance and mycotoxins and endotoxins profile. Two cytotoxicity assays (MTT and resazurin) were conducted with two cell lines (Calu-3 and THP-1), and in vitro pro-inflammatory potential was assessed in THP-1 cell line. Out of the 15 sampling locations 33.3% did not comply with Portuguese legislation regarding bacterial contamination, whereas concerning fungal contamination 60% presented I/O > 1. Toxigenic fungal species were observed in 27% of the sampled rooms (4 out of 15) and qPCR analysis successfully amplified DNA from the Aspergillus sections Flavi and Fumigati, although mycotoxins were not detected. Growth of distinct fungal species was observed on Sabouraud dextrose agar with triazole drugs, such as Aspergillus section Versicolores on 1 mg/L VORI. The highest concentrations of endotoxins were found in settled dust samples and ranged from 5.72 to 23.0 EU.mg-1. While a considerable cytotoxic effect (cell viability < 30%) was observed in one HVAC filter sample with Calu-3 cell line, it was not observed with THP-1 cell line. In air samples a medium cytotoxic effect (61-68% cell viability) was observed in 3 out of 15 samples. The cytokine responses produced a more potent average cell response (46.8 ± 12.3 ρg/mL IL-1β; 90.8 ± 58.5 ρg/mL TNF-α) on passive samples than air samples (25.5 ± 5.2 ρg/mL IL-1β and of 19.4 ± 5.2 ρg/mL TNF-α). A multi-approach regarding parameters to assess, sampling and analysis methods should be followed to characterize the biorburden in the Hospital indoor environment. This study supports the importance of considering exposure to complex mixtures in indoor environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Viegas
- H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Portugal.
| | - Beatriz Almeida
- H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Monteiro
- H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Inês Paciência
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal & Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Rufo
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal & Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Lívia Aguiar
- INSA - Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruna Lage
- INSA - Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Porto, Portugal
| | - Lídia Maria Diogo Gonçalves
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Liliana Aranha Caetano
- H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Carolino
- H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Anita Quintal Gomes
- H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; University of Lisbon Institute of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Magdalena Twarużek
- Kazimierz Wielki University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Biology, Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Chodkiewicza 30, 85-064, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Robert Kosicki
- Kazimierz Wielki University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Biology, Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Chodkiewicza 30, 85-064, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Jan Grajewski
- Kazimierz Wielki University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Experimental Biology, Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Chodkiewicza 30, 85-064, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - João Paulo Teixeira
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; INSA - Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Porto, Portugal
| | - Susana Viegas
- H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Portugal
| | - Cristiana Pereira
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; INSA - Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Porto, Portugal
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Kristono GA, Shorter C, Pierse N, Crane J, Siebers R. Endotoxin, cat, and house dust mite allergens in electrostatic cloths and bedroom dust. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2019; 16:89-96. [PMID: 30325697 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2018.1536827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Environmental exposure to endotoxin, Fel d I (cat) allergen and Der p I (house dust mite) allergen have been associated with asthma symptoms and have been measured in the environment using various sampling methods, including the electrostatic dust collector. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether levels of endotoxin and allergens were detectable in electrostatic dust collectors and to examine the correlation of allergen and endotoxin levels between electrostatic dust collectors and vacuum sampling methods (floor dust and mattress dust). Electrostatic cloths, bedroom floor dust and mattress dust samples from a subset of 60 homes were randomly selected from the Health of Occupants of Mouldy Homes study for allergen and endotoxin analysis. Fel d I and Der p I allergens were analyzed by double monoclonal antibody ELISA and endotoxin by the kinetic Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay. An enhanced ELISA method was used to analyze Der p I in the electrostatic cloths. Endotoxin was detected in all samples, however Fel d I and Der p I were not detected in all electrostatic dust collector samples (detection in 53% and 15% of cloths respectively). No correlations were found between cloth and dust samples for endotoxin or Der p I, but moderate-to-strong correlations were found between all three sampling methods for Fel d I (rs = 0.612-0.715, p < 0.001). Poor correlation was found between floor dust and mattress dust samples for Der p I (rs = 0.256, p = 0.048). Electrostatic dust collectors may provide a way to measure airborne dust and allergen. Given the moderate-to-low correlations with vacuum dust sampling, this may present a unique measurement system which, when collected alongside traditional vacuum dust sampling, could provide additional exposure measures. Further studies are required to correlate endotoxin and allergen levels measured by electrostatic dust collector with air sampling and to explore the relationships between these bioaerosols, environmental factors and asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisela A Kristono
- a Wellington Asthma Research Group, Department of Medicine , University of Otago , Wellington , New Zealand
| | - Caroline Shorter
- a Wellington Asthma Research Group, Department of Medicine , University of Otago , Wellington , New Zealand
| | - Nevil Pierse
- b Department of Public Health , University of Otago , Wellington , New Zealand
| | - Julian Crane
- a Wellington Asthma Research Group, Department of Medicine , University of Otago , Wellington , New Zealand
| | - Robert Siebers
- a Wellington Asthma Research Group, Department of Medicine , University of Otago , Wellington , New Zealand
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Roque K, Shin KM, Jo JH, Lim GD, Song ES, Shin SJ, Gautam R, Lee JH, Kim YG, Cho AR, Kim CY, Kim HJ, Lee MS, Oh HG, Lee BC, Kim JH, Kim KH, Jeong HK, Kim HA, Heo Y. Association between endotoxin levels in dust from indoor swine housing environments and the immune responses of pigs. J Vet Sci 2018; 19:331-338. [PMID: 29366303 PMCID: PMC5974514 DOI: 10.4142/jvs.2018.19.3.331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Indoor animal husbandry environments are inevitably contaminated with endotoxins. Endotoxin exposure is associated with various inflammatory illnesses in animals. This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between the degree of endotoxin exposure and the cellular and humoral immune profiles of fattening pigs. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of 47 pigs from ten pig farms in Korea. Whole blood cell counts and plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) classes were determined. Peripheral-blood mononuclear cells were stimulated in vitro with concanavalin A for 48 h, and cytokines released into culture supernatants were measured. The barns in which the pigs lived were assessed for endotoxin levels in the total and respirable dust by using the limulus amebocyte lysate kinetic QCL method. Low and high endotoxin exposures were defined as ≤ 30 and > 30 EU/m3, respectively. Compared to pigs with low endotoxin exposure (n = 19), highly exposed pigs (n = 28) had higher circulating neutrophil and lymphocyte (particularly B cells) counts, IgG and IgE levels, interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin (IL)-4 productions, and lower IgA levels and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) production. The IL-4, IFNγ, and TNFα levels significantly correlated with endotoxin level and/or pig age. Constant exposure of pigs to high levels of airborne endotoxins can lead to aberrant immune profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine Roque
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - Kyung Min Shin
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - Ji Hoon Jo
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - Gyeong Dong Lim
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - Eun Seob Song
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - So Jung Shin
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - Ravi Gautam
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - Jae Hee Lee
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - Yeon Gyeong Kim
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - Ah Rang Cho
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - Chang Yul Kim
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - Hyun Ji Kim
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
| | - Myung Sook Lee
- Technology Services Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Hyeong-Geu Oh
- Technology Services Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Byung-Chul Lee
- Technology Services Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Jung Hee Kim
- Dodram Pig Farmer's Cooperative, Veterinary Service Center, Daejeon 35352, Korea
| | - Kwang-Ho Kim
- Dodram Pig Farmer's Cooperative, Veterinary Service Center, Daejeon 35352, Korea
| | - Hyun Kyu Jeong
- Dodram Pig Farmer's Cooperative, Veterinary Service Center, Daejeon 35352, Korea
| | - Hyoung Ah Kim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Yong Heo
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Bio-Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
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16
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Oluwole O, Rennie DC, Senthilselvan A, Dyck R, Afanasieva A, Kirychuk S, Katselis G, Lawson JA. The association between endotoxin in house dust with atopy and exercise-induced bronchospasm in children with asthma. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 164:302-309. [PMID: 29554621 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have reported protective and adverse associations between microbial exposure and childhood asthma. However, among children with asthma the relationships between endotoxin and exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) is less clear. OBJECTIVE We investigated the association between exposure to endotoxin in house dust with atopy and EIB in children with asthma. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted among schoolchildren (aged 7-17 years) in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. A subpopulation with asthma (n = 116) were identified from 335 participants using a validated asthma algorithm. We determined atopy among the asthma subpopulation by skin prick testing (SPT) while EIB was evaluated using exercise challenge testing (ECT). Dust samples were collected from mattress and play area floors, and endotoxin was measured in dust extracts. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore associations between endotoxin with atopy and EIB. RESULTS Among the 116 children with asthma, 99 completed SPT and all had completed ECT. Of these, 71/99 (71.7%) were atopic and 26/116 (22.4%) had EIB. Exposure to high play area endotoxin concentration [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.03-0.85] and load (aOR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02-0.73) were negatively associated with atopy. In contrast, EIB was positively associated with high mattress endotoxin concentration (aOR = 6.01, 95% CI: 1.20-30.13). CONCLUSION Indoor microbial endotoxin exposure has varied associations with atopy and exercise-induced bronchospasm among children with asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwafemi Oluwole
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 2Z4; Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, PO Box 23, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 2Z4.
| | - Donna C Rennie
- Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, PO Box 23, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 2Z4; College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 2Z4.
| | | | - Roland Dyck
- Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, PO Box 23, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 2Z4; Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 0W8.
| | - Anna Afanasieva
- Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, PO Box 23, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 2Z4.
| | - Shelley Kirychuk
- Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, PO Box 23, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 2Z4; Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 0W8.
| | - George Katselis
- Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, PO Box 23, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 2Z4; Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 0W8.
| | - Joshua A Lawson
- Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, PO Box 23, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 2Z4; Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 0W8.
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Leppänen HK, Täubel M, Jayaprakash B, Vepsäläinen A, Pasanen P, Hyvärinen A. Quantitative assessment of microbes from samples of indoor air and dust. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2018; 28:231-241. [PMID: 28975927 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2017.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Different types of house dust samples are widely used as surrogates of airborne inhalation exposure in studies assessing health effects of indoor microbes. Here we studied-in a quantitative assessment-the representativeness of different house dust samples of indoor air (IA) and investigated seasonality and reproducibility of indoor samples. Microbial exposure was measured five times over 1 year in four rural and five urban Finnish homes. Six sampling methods were used: button inhalable aerosol sampler (actively collected personal and indoor air sampling), settled dust, floor dust, mattress dust and vacuum cleaner dust bag dust; the latter three referred to herein as "reservoir dust samples". Using quantitative PCR, we quantified the fungal species Cladosporium herbarum, the fungal group Penicillium/Aspergillus/Paecilomyces variotii, total fungal DNA, and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. We observed significant differences in microbial levels between rural and urban homes, most pronounced for personal air samples. Fungal species and groups but not total fungal DNA in indoor air correlated moderately to well with reservoir dust and with personal air samples. For bacterial groups, the correlations between air and dust were generally lower. Samples of indoor air and settled dust reflected similarly seasonal variation in microbial levels and were also similar compositionally, as assessed by ratios of qPCR markers. In general, determinations from mattress dust and other reservoir samples were better reproducible in repeated assessments over time than from indoor air or settled dust. This study indicates that settled dust reflects the microbial composition of indoor air and responds similarly to environmental determinants. Reservoir dusts tend to predict better microbial levels in indoor air and are more reproducible. Sampling strategies in indoor studies need to be developed based on the study questions and may need to rely on more than one type of sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna K Leppänen
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O.Box 95, Kuopio 70701, Finland
| | - Martin Täubel
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O.Box 95, Kuopio 70701, Finland
| | | | - Asko Vepsäläinen
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O.Box 95, Kuopio 70701, Finland
| | - Pertti Pasanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anne Hyvärinen
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O.Box 95, Kuopio 70701, Finland
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18
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Exposure and Sensitization to Pets Modify Endotoxin Association with Asthma and Wheeze. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE 2018; 6:2006-2013.e4. [PMID: 29684578 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2018.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pets are major contributors of endotoxin in homes, but whether they influence endotoxin association with respiratory outcomes is unclear. OBJECTIVE To examine whether exposure and sensitization to dog and cat modify the relationship between endotoxin exposure and asthma and wheeze. METHODS We analyzed data from 6051 participants in the 2005-2006 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). House dust from bedroom floor and bedding was evaluated for endotoxin and for dog (Canis familiaris 1) and cat (Feline domesticus 1) allergens. The NHANES also collected data on respiratory outcomes and measured IgE specific to allergens. Associations of log-endotoxin and pet exposure with respiratory outcomes were examined, adjusting for covariates including pet avoidance. RESULTS Dog and cat ownership among participants was 48.3% and 37.5%, respectively. Endotoxin geometric mean (SE) was 15.49 (0.50) EU/mg. Endotoxin and pet allergen levels were significantly higher in households with a dog or cat. Overall, endotoxin was positively associated with wheeze (odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.04-1.62), but not with asthma. However, in participants nonsensitized to dog, the odds of endotoxin association with wheeze were higher with exposure to dog allergen (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.27-2.53; Pinteraction = .048). In participants sensitized to cat and exposed to cat allergen, endotoxin became positively associated with asthma (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.21-3.0; Pinteraction = .040). With coexposure to dog and cat allergens, endotoxin association with asthma and wheeze was exacerbated (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.04-3.83; Pinteraction = .012 and OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.32-2.66; Pinteraction = .016, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to dog and cat allergens enhances the association of endotoxin with asthma and wheeze.
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19
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Järvi K, Hyvärinen A, Täubel M, Karvonen AM, Turunen M, Jalkanen K, Patovirta R, Syrjänen T, Pirinen J, Salonen H, Nevalainen A, Pekkanen J. Microbial growth in building material samples and occupants' health in severely moisture-damaged homes. INDOOR AIR 2018; 28:287-297. [PMID: 29151276 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
There is no commonly approved approach to detect and quantify the health-relevant microbial exposure in moisture-damaged buildings. In 39 single-family homes with severe moisture damage, we studied whether concentrations of viable microbes in building material samples are associated with health among 71 adults and 68 children, and assessed with symptoms questionnaires, exhaled NO, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability. Symptoms were grouped into three scores: upper respiratory symptoms, lower respiratory symptoms, and general symptoms. The homes were divided into three groups based on viable counts of fungi, actinomycetes, and total bacteria cultivated from building material samples. Highest group of actinomycete counts was associated with more general symptoms, worse perceived health, and higher daily PEF variability (aOR 12.51; 1.10-141.90 as compared to the lowest group) among adults, and with an increase in lower respiratory symptoms in children, but the confidence intervals were wide. We observed significant associations of fungal counts and total microbial score with worse perceived health in adults. No associations with exhaled NO were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Järvi
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
- School of Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - A Hyvärinen
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - M Täubel
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - A M Karvonen
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - M Turunen
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - K Jalkanen
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - R Patovirta
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - T Syrjänen
- The Organisation for Respiratory Health in Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J Pirinen
- The Organisation for Respiratory Health in Finland, Helsinki, Finland
- Ministry of Environment, Helsinki, Finland
| | - H Salonen
- School of Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - A Nevalainen
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - J Pekkanen
- Environmental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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House Dust Endotoxin Levels Are Associated with Adult Asthma in a U.S. Farming Population. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2018; 14:324-331. [PMID: 27977294 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.201611-861oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Endotoxin initiates a proinflammatory response from the innate immune system. Studies in children suggest that endotoxin exposure from house dust may be an important risk factor for asthma, but few studies have been conducted in adult populations. OBJECTIVES To investigate the association of house dust endotoxin levels with asthma and related phenotypes (wheeze, atopy, and pulmonary function) in a large U.S. farming population. METHODS Dust was collected from the bedrooms (n = 2,485) of participants enrolled in a case-control study of current asthma (927 cases) nested within the Agricultural Health Study. Dust endotoxin was measured by Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Outcomes were measured by questionnaire, spirometry, and blood draw. We evaluated associations using linear and logistic regression. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Endotoxin was significantly associated with current asthma (odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.47), and this relationship was modified by early-life farm exposure (born on a farm: OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02-1.37; not born on a farm: OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.26-2.20; Interaction P = 0.05). Significant positive associations were seen with both atopic and nonatopic asthma. Endotoxin was not related to either atopy or wheeze. Higher endotoxin was related to lower FEV1/FVC in asthma cases only (Interaction P = 0.01). For asthma, there was suggestive evidence of a gene-by-environment interaction for the CD14 variant rs2569190 (Interaction P = 0.16) but not for the TLR4 variants rs4986790 and rs4986791. CONCLUSIONS House dust endotoxin was associated with current atopic and nonatopic asthma in a U.S. farming population. The degree of the association with asthma depended on early-life farm exposures. Furthermore, endotoxin was associated with lower pulmonary function in patients with asthma.
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21
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Coombs K, Taft D, Ward DV, Green BJ, Chew GL, Shamsaei B, Meller J, Indugula R, Reponen T. Variability of indoor fungal microbiome of green and non-green low-income homes in Cincinnati, Ohio. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 610-611:212-218. [PMID: 28803198 PMCID: PMC6728913 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
"Green" housing is designed to use low-impact materials, increase energy efficiency and improve occupant health. However, little is known about the indoor mycobiome of green homes. The current study is a subset of a multicenter study that aims to investigate the indoor environment of green homes and the respiratory health of asthmatic children. In the current study, the mycobiome in air, bed dust and floor dust was compared between green (study site) and non-green (control site), low-income homes in Cincinnati, Ohio. The samples were collected at baseline (within four months following renovation), and 12months after the baseline at the study site. Parallel sample collection was conducted in non-green control homes. Air samples were collected by PM2.5 samplers over 5-days. Bed and floor dust samples were vacuumed after the air sampling was completed. The DNA sample extracts were analyzed using ITS amplicon sequencing. Analysis indicated that there was no clear trend in the fungal communities between green and non-green homes. Instead, fungal community differences were greatest between sample types - air, bed, and floor. Microbial communities also changed substantially between sampling intervals in both green and non-green homes for all sample types, potentially indicating that there was very little stability in the mycobiomes. Research gaps remain regarding how indoor mycobiome fluctuates over time. Longer follow-up periods might elucidate the effect of green renovation on microbial load in buildings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanistha Coombs
- University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Diana Taft
- University of California at Davis, Department of Food Science and Technology, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA, USA
| | - Doyle V Ward
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Center for Microbiome Research, 55 N Lake Ave, Worcester, MA, USA; University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, 55 N Lake Ave North, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Brett J Green
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Ginger L Chew
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, 4770 Buford Hwy, N.E., MS-F60 Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Behrouz Shamsaei
- University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jaroslaw Meller
- University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Division of Biomedical Informatics, 3333 Burnett Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Reshmi Indugula
- University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Tiina Reponen
- University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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22
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Yoda Y, Tamura K, Shima M. Airborne endotoxin concentrations in indoor and outdoor particulate matter and their predictors in an urban city. INDOOR AIR 2017; 27:955-964. [PMID: 28161889 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Endotoxins are an important biological component of particulate matter and have been associated with adverse effects on human health. There have been some recent studies on airborne endotoxin concentrations. We collected fine (PM2.5 ) and coarse (PM10-2.5 ) particulate matter twice on weekdays and weekends each for 48 hour, inside and outside 55 homes in an urban city in Japan. Endotoxin concentrations in both fractions were measured using the kinetic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay. The relationships between endotoxin concentrations and household characteristics were evaluated for each fraction. Both indoor and outdoor endotoxin concentrations were higher in PM2.5 than in PM10-2.5 . In both PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 , indoor endotoxin concentrations were higher than outdoor concentrations, and the indoor endotoxin concentrations significantly correlated with outdoor concentrations in each fraction (R2 =0.458 and 0.198, respectively). Indoor endotoxin concentrations in PM2.5 were significantly higher in homes with tatami or carpet flooring and in homes with pets, and lower in homes that used air purifiers. Indoor endotoxin concentrations in PM10-2.5 were significantly higher in homes with two or more children and homes with tatami or carpet flooring. These results showed that the indoor endotoxin concentrations were associated with the household characteristics in addition to outdoor endotoxin concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Yoda
- Department of Public Health, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan
| | - K Tamura
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - M Shima
- Department of Public Health, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan
- Hyogo Regional Center of Japan Environment and Children's Study, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan
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23
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Johnston JD, Kruman BA, Nelson MC, Merrill RM, Graul RJ, Hoybjerg TG, Tuttle SC, Myers SJ, Cook RB, Weber KS. Differential effects of air conditioning type on residential endotoxin levels in a semi-arid climate. INDOOR AIR 2017; 27:946-954. [PMID: 28141892 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Residential endotoxin exposure is associated with protective and pathogenic health outcomes. Evaporative coolers, an energy-efficient type of air conditioner used in dry climates, are a potential source of indoor endotoxins; however, this association is largely unstudied. We collected settled dust biannually from four locations in homes with evaporative coolers (n=18) and central air conditioners (n=22) in Utah County, Utah (USA), during winter (Jan-Apr) and summer (Aug-Sept), 2014. Dust samples (n=281) were analyzed by the Limulus amebocyte lysate test. Housing factors were measured by survey, and indoor temperature and relative humidity measures were collected during both seasons. Endotoxin concentrations (EU/mg) were significantly higher in homes with evaporative coolers from mattress and bedroom floor samples during both seasons. Endotoxin surface loads (EU/m2 ) were significantly higher in homes with evaporative coolers from mattress and bedroom floor samples during both seasons and in upholstered furniture during winter. For the nine significant season-by-location comparisons, EU/mg and EU/m2 were approximately three to six times greater in homes using evaporative coolers. A plausible explanation for these findings is that evaporative coolers serve as a reservoir and distribution system for Gram-negative bacteria or their cell wall components in homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J D Johnston
- Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - B A Kruman
- Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - M C Nelson
- Microbiology & Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - R M Merrill
- Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - R J Graul
- Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - T G Hoybjerg
- Microbiology & Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - S C Tuttle
- Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - S J Myers
- Microbiology & Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - R B Cook
- Microbiology & Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - K S Weber
- Microbiology & Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
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24
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Fessler MB, Carnes MU, Salo PM, Wilkerson J, Cohn RD, King D, Hoppin JA, Sandler DP, Travlos G, London S, Thorne P, Zeldin D. House Dust Endotoxin and Peripheral Leukocyte Counts: Results from Two Large Epidemiologic Studies. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2017; 125:057010. [PMID: 28599265 PMCID: PMC5730525 DOI: 10.1289/ehp661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The peripheral leukocyte count is a biomarker of inflammation and is associated with human all-cause mortality. Although causes of acute leukocytosis are well-described, chronic environmental determinants of leukocyte number are less well understood. OBJECTIVES We investigated the relationship between house dust endotoxin concentration and peripheral leukocyte counts in human subjects. METHODS The endotoxin–leukocyte relationship was evaluated by linear regression in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2006 (n=6,254) and the Agricultural Lung Health Study (ALHS; n=1,708). In the ALHS, we tested for a gene [Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4), encoding the endotoxin receptor]-by-environment interaction in the endotoxin–leukocyte relationship using regression models with an interaction term. RESULTS There is a statistically significant, positive association between endotoxin concentration and total leukocyte number [estimated change, 0.186×103/μL (95% CI: 0.070, 0.301×103/μL) per 10-fold change in endotoxin; p=0.004) in the NHANES. Similar positive associations were found for monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils. Stratified analyses revealed possible effect modification by asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We observed similar associations in the ALHS. For total leukocytes, there was suggestive evidence in the ALHS of a gene-by-environment interaction for minor allele carrier status at the TLR4 haplotype defined by rs4986790 and rs4986791 (interaction p=0.15). CONCLUSIONS This is, to our knowledge, the first report of an association between house dust endotoxin and leukocyte count in a national survey. The finding was replicated in a farming population. Peripheral leukocyte count may be influenced by residential endotoxin exposure in diverse settings. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP661.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Fessler
- Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Megan U Carnes
- Epidemiology Branch, NIEHS, NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Päivi M Salo
- Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jesse Wilkerson
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Richard D Cohn
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Debra King
- Clinical Pathology Group, NIEHS, NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jane A Hoppin
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dale P Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, NIEHS, NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Greg Travlos
- Clinical Pathology Group, NIEHS, NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stephanie London
- Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- Epidemiology Branch, NIEHS, NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Peter Thorne
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
| | - Darryl Zeldin
- Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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25
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Jiřík V, Machaczka O, Ovesná V, Miturová H, Holendová E, Janoutová J, Janout V. Bioaerosols in the Suburbs of Ostrava during a One Year Period. Cent Eur J Public Health 2016; 24 Suppl:S55-S60. [DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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26
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Kilburg-Basnyat B, Peters TM, Perry SS, Thorne PS. Electrostatic dust collectors compared to inhalable samplers for measuring endotoxin concentrations in farm homes. INDOOR AIR 2016; 26:724-33. [PMID: 26296624 PMCID: PMC4850132 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Paired electrostatic dust collectors (EDCs) and daily, inhalable button samplers (BS) were used concurrently to sample endotoxin in 10 farm homes during 7-day periods in summer and winter. Winter sampling included an optical particle counter (OPC) to measure PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 . Electrostatic dust collectors and BS filters were analyzed for endotoxin using the kinetic chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Optical particle counter particulate matter (PM) data were divided into two PM categories. In summer, geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) endotoxin concentrations were 0.82 EU/m(3) (2.7) measured with the BS and 737 EU/m(2) (1.9) measured with the EDC. Winter values were 0.52 EU/m(3) (3.1) for BS and 538 EU/m(2) (3.0) for EDCs. Seven-day endotoxin values of EDCs were highly correlated with the 7-day BS sampling averages (r = 0.70; P < 0.001). Analysis of variance indicated a 2.4-fold increase in EDC endotoxin concentrations for each unit increase of the ratio of PM2.5 to PM2.5-10 . There was also a significant correlation between BS and EDCs endotoxin concentrations for winter (r = 0.67; P < 0.05) and summer (r = 0.75; P < 0.05). Thus, EDCs sample comparable endotoxin concentrations to BS, making EDCs a feasible, easy to use alternative to BS for endotoxin sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kilburg-Basnyat
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - T M Peters
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - S S Perry
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - P S Thorne
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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27
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Abstract
This review deals with endotoxin in the environment and its relation to disease among exposed persons. Data are presented on levels of endotoxin in different environments with maximum values of several μg/m3. The cellular reactions of importance for inhalation exposure effects are attachment to lipopolysaccharide binding protein, CD14 cell surface protein and TLR-4 receptors. The internalisation of endotoxin in macrophages and endothelial cells results in local production of inflammatory cytokines with subsequent migration of inflammatory cells into the lung and the penetration of cytokines into the blood. These events orchestrate clinical effects in terms of toxic pneumonitis, airways' inflammation and systemic symptoms. Inhalation challenges with pure endotoxin and field studies confirm the relation between these effects and exposure to dusts containing endotoxin. It is possible that polymorphism in genes determining endotoxin reactivity, particularly TLR-4, influences the risk for disease after environmental exposures. Some data suggest that the inflammation caused by inhaled endotoxin may decrease the risk for atopic sensitisation among children and lung cancer among workers exposed to organic dust. Additional research is needed to clarify the role of other environmental agents that are present in connection with endotoxin, particularly (1→3)-β-D-glucan from mold cell walls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ragnar Rylander
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden,
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28
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Schwarze PE, Ovrevik J, Låg M, Refsnes M, Nafstad P, Hetland RB, Dybing E. Particulate matter properties and health effects: consistency of epidemiological and toxicological studies. Hum Exp Toxicol 2016; 25:559-79. [PMID: 17165623 DOI: 10.1177/096032706072520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 252] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the ambient particulate matter (PM) fractions or constituents, critically involved in eliciting adverse health effects, is crucial to the implementation of more cost-efficient abatement strategies to improve air quality. This review focuses on the importance of different particle properties for PM-induced effects, and whether there is consistency in the results from epidemiological and experimental studies. An evident problem for such comparisons is that epidemiological and experimental data on the effects of specific components of ambient PM are limited. Despite this, some conclusions can be drawn. With respect to the importance of the PM size-fractions, experimental and epidemiological studies are somewhat conflicting, but there seems to be a certain consistency in that the coarse fraction (PM10-2.5) has an effect that should not be neglected. Better exposure characterization may improve the consistency between the results from experimental and epidemiological studies, in particular for ultrafine particles. Experimental data indicate that surface area is an important metric, but composition may play an even greater role in eliciting effects. The consistency between epidemiological and experimental findings for specific PM-components appears most convincing for metals, which seem to be important for the development of both pulmonary and cardiovascular disease. Metals may also be involved in PM-induced allergic sensitization, but the epidemiological evidence for this is scarce. Soluble organic compounds appear to be implicated in PM-induced allergy and cancer, but the data from epidemiological studies are insufficient for any conclusions. The present review suggests that there may be a need for improvements in research designs. In particular, there is a need for better exposure assessments in epidemiological investigations, whereas experimental data would benefit from an improved comparability of studies. Combined experimental and epidemiological investigations may also help answer some of the unresolved issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- P E Schwarze
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
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29
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Barraza F, Jorquera H, Heyer J, Palma W, Edwards AM, Muñoz M, Valdivia G, Montoya LD. Short-term dynamics of indoor and outdoor endotoxin exposure: Case of Santiago, Chile, 2012. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2016; 92-93:97-105. [PMID: 27065310 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Indoor and outdoor endotoxin in PM2.5 was measured for the very first time in Santiago, Chile, in spring 2012. Average endotoxin concentrations were 0.099 and 0.094 [EU/m(3)] for indoor (N=44) and outdoor (N=41) samples, respectively; the indoor-outdoor correlation (log-transformed concentrations) was low: R=-0.06, 95% CI: (-0.35 to 0.24), likely owing to outdoor spatial variability. A linear regression model explained 68% of variability in outdoor endotoxins, using as predictors elemental carbon (a proxy of traffic emissions), chlorine (a tracer of marine air masses reaching the city) and relative humidity (a modulator of surface emissions of dust, vegetation and garbage debris). In this study, for the first time a potential source contribution function (PSCF) was applied to outdoor endotoxin measurements. Wind trajectory analysis identified upwind agricultural sources as contributors to the short-term, outdoor endotoxin variability. Our results confirm an association between combustion particles from traffic and outdoor endotoxin concentrations. For indoor endotoxins, a predictive model was developed but it only explained 44% of endotoxin variability; the significant predictors were tracers of indoor PM2.5 dust (Si, Ca), number of external windows and number of hours with internal doors open. Results suggest that short-term indoor endotoxin variability may be driven by household dust/garbage production and handling. This would explain the modest predictive performance of published models that use answers to household surveys as predictors. One feasible alternative is to increase the sampling period so that household features would arise as significant predictors of long-term airborne endotoxin levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Barraza
- Departmento de Ingeniería Química y Bioprocesos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Héctor Jorquera
- Departmento de Ingeniería Química y Bioprocesos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile; Centro de Investigación en Nanotecnología y Materiales Avanzados, CIEN-UC, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile.
| | - Johanna Heyer
- Departmento de Ingeniería Química y Bioprocesos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Wilfredo Palma
- Departamento de Estadística, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Ana María Edwards
- Facultad de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Marcelo Muñoz
- Facultad de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Valdivia
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Marcoleta 340, Santiago 8330033, Chile
| | - Lupita D Montoya
- Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 428, Boulder, Colorado, United States
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Rathnayake CM, Metwali N, Baker Z, Jayarathne T, Kostle PA, Thorne PS, O'Shaughnessy PT, Stone EA. Urban Enhancement of PM 10 Bioaerosol Tracers Relative to Background Locations in the Midwestern United States. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. ATMOSPHERES : JGR 2016; 121:5071-5089. [PMID: 27672535 PMCID: PMC5034947 DOI: 10.1002/2015jd024538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Bioaerosols are well-known immune-active particles that exacerbate respiratory diseases. Human exposures to bioaerosols and their resultant health impacts depend on their ambient concentrations, seasonal and spatial variation, and co-pollutants, which are not yet widely characterized. In this study, chemical and biological tracers of bioaerosols were quantified in respirable particulate matter (PM10) collected at three urban and three background sites in the Midwestern United States across four seasons in 2012. Endotoxins from gram negative bacteria (and a few gram positive bacteria), water-soluble proteins, and tracers for fungal spores (fungal glucans, arabitol and mannitol) were ubiquitous and showed significant seasonal variation and dependence on temperature. Fungal spores were elevated in spring and peaked in summer, following the seasonal growing cycle, while endotoxins peaked in autumn during the row crop harvesting season. Paired comparisons of bioaerosols in urban and background sites revealed significant urban enhancements in PM10, fungal glucans, endotoxins and water-soluble proteins relative to background locations, such that urban populations have a greater outdoor exposure to bioaerosols. These bioaerosols contribute, in part, to the urban excesses in PM10. Higher bioaerosol mass fractions in urban areas relative to background sites indicate that urban areas serve as a source of bioaerosols. Similar urban enhancements in water-soluble calcium and its correlation with bioaerosol tracers point towards wind-blown soil as an important source of bioaerosols in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nervana Metwali
- University of Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory, Coralville, IA, USA 52241, United States
| | - Zach Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242
| | | | - Pamela A Kostle
- University of Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory, Coralville, IA, USA 52241, United States
| | - Peter S Thorne
- Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242; Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242
| | - Patrick T O'Shaughnessy
- Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242; Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242
| | - Elizabeth A Stone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242
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31
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Rathnayake CM, Metwali N, Baker Z, Jayarathne T, Kostle PA, Thorne PS, O'Shaughnessy PT, Stone EA. Urban Enhancement of PM 10 Bioaerosol Tracers Relative to Background Locations in the Midwestern United States. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. ATMOSPHERES : JGR 2016. [PMID: 27672535 DOI: 10.1002/2015jd024538.received] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Bioaerosols are well-known immune-active particles that exacerbate respiratory diseases. Human exposures to bioaerosols and their resultant health impacts depend on their ambient concentrations, seasonal and spatial variation, and co-pollutants, which are not yet widely characterized. In this study, chemical and biological tracers of bioaerosols were quantified in respirable particulate matter (PM10) collected at three urban and three background sites in the Midwestern United States across four seasons in 2012. Endotoxins from gram negative bacteria (and a few gram positive bacteria), water-soluble proteins, and tracers for fungal spores (fungal glucans, arabitol and mannitol) were ubiquitous and showed significant seasonal variation and dependence on temperature. Fungal spores were elevated in spring and peaked in summer, following the seasonal growing cycle, while endotoxins peaked in autumn during the row crop harvesting season. Paired comparisons of bioaerosols in urban and background sites revealed significant urban enhancements in PM10, fungal glucans, endotoxins and water-soluble proteins relative to background locations, such that urban populations have a greater outdoor exposure to bioaerosols. These bioaerosols contribute, in part, to the urban excesses in PM10. Higher bioaerosol mass fractions in urban areas relative to background sites indicate that urban areas serve as a source of bioaerosols. Similar urban enhancements in water-soluble calcium and its correlation with bioaerosol tracers point towards wind-blown soil as an important source of bioaerosols in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nervana Metwali
- University of Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory, Coralville, IA, USA 52241, United States
| | - Zach Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242
| | | | - Pamela A Kostle
- University of Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory, Coralville, IA, USA 52241, United States
| | - Peter S Thorne
- Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242; Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242
| | - Patrick T O'Shaughnessy
- Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242; Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242
| | - Elizabeth A Stone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 52242
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Rintala H, Pitkäranta M, Täubel M. Microbial communities associated with house dust. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2016; 78:75-120. [PMID: 22305094 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394805-2.00004-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
House dust is a complex mixture of inorganic and organic material with microbes in abundance. Few microbial species are actually able to grow and proliferate in dust and only if enough moisture is provided. Hence, most of the microbial content originates from sources other than the dust itself. The most important sources of microbes in house dust are outdoor air and other outdoor material tracked into the buildings, occupants of the buildings including pets and microbial growth on moist construction materials. Based on numerous cultivation studies, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and about 20 other fungal genera are the most commonly isolated genera from house dust. The cultivable bacterial flora is dominated by Gram-positive genera, such as Staplylococcus, Corynebacterium, and Lactococcus. Culture-independent studies have shown that both the fungal and the bacterial flora are far more diverse, with estimates of up to 500-1000 different species being present in house dust. Concentrations of microbes in house dust vary from nondetectable to 10(9) cells g(-1) dust, depending on the dust type, detection method, type of the indoor environment and season, among other factors. Microbial assemblages in different house dust types usually share the same core species; however, alterations in the composition are caused by differing sources of microbes for different dust types. For example, mattress dust is dominated by species originating from the user of the mattress, whereas floor dust reflects rather outdoor sources. Farming homes contain higher microbial load than urban homes and according to a recent study, temperate climate zones show higher dust microbial diversity than tropical zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Rintala
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, Kuopio, Finland.
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Lai PS, Sheehan WJ, Gaffin JM, Petty CR, Coull BA, Gold DR, Phipatanakul W. School Endotoxin Exposure and Asthma Morbidity in Inner-city Children. Chest 2016; 148:1251-1258. [PMID: 26087201 DOI: 10.1378/chest.15-0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endotoxin exposure is associated with airway inflammation. Children spend 6 to 8 h/d in school, yet the effect of school-specific endotoxin exposure on asthma morbidity is not well understood. METHODS In this longitudinal cohort study, 248 students with asthma, from 38 inner-city schools, underwent baseline phenotyping and follow-up. Clinical outcomes were evaluated throughout the academic school year and linked to classroom-specific dust and air endotoxin levels as well as home dust endotoxin levels. The primary outcome was maximum asthma symptom-days per 2-week period. RESULTS Classrooms had higher settled dust endotoxin levels compared with homes (14.3 endotoxin unit/mg vs 11.3 endotoxin unit/mg; P = .02). Airborne endotoxin levels exceeding recommended occupational exposure limits for adults were recorded in 22.0% of classrooms. Classroom air endotoxin levels were independently associated with increased maximum symptom-days in children with nonatopic asthma, but not in those with atopic asthma (interaction P = .03). Adjusting for home exposures, classroom endotoxin exposure was independently associated with a dose-dependent increase in asthma symptom-days for children with nonatopic asthma (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.03-1.31]; P = .02). In these subjects, maximum symptom-days increased by 1.3 days for each 14-day period when comparing students in classrooms with the lowest endotoxin levels compared with average measured levels. CONCLUSIONS Inner-city children with asthma are exposed to high levels of airborne endotoxin at school, resulting in increased asthma symptoms in children with nonatopic asthma. Mitigation of school-related exposures may represent a strategy to decrease asthma morbidity in this population. TRIAL REGISTRY ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01756391; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peggy S Lai
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - William J Sheehan
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Jonathan M Gaffin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Carter R Petty
- Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Diane R Gold
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA; Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
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Williams DAL, McCormack MC, Matsui EC, Diette GB, McKenzie SE, Geyh AS, Breysse PN. Cow allergen (Bos d2) and endotoxin concentrations are higher in the settled dust of homes proximate to industrial-scale dairy operations. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2016; 26:42-7. [PMID: 25138294 PMCID: PMC4700044 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2014.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Airborne contaminants produced by industrial agricultural facilities contain chemical and biological compounds that can impact the health of residents living in close proximity. Settled dust can be a reservoir for these contaminants and can influence long-term exposures. In this study, we sampled the indoor- and outdoor-settled dust from 40 homes that varied in proximity to industrial-scale dairies (ISD; industrial-scale dairy, a term used in this paper to describe a large dairy farm and adjacent waste sprayfields, concentrated animal feeding operation or animal feeding operation, that uses industrial processes) in the Yakima Valley, Washington. We analyzed settled dust samples for cow allergen (Bos d2, a cow allergen associated with dander, hair, sweat and urine, it is a member of the lipocalin family of allergens associated with mammals), mouse allergen (Mus m1; major mouse allergen, a mouse urinary allergen, in the lipocalin family), dust mite allergens (Der p1 (Dermatophagoides pteronissinus 1) and Der f1 (Dermatophagoides farinae 1)), and endotoxin (a component of the cell walls of gram negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharide, which can be found in air and dust and can produce a strong inflammatory response). A concentration gradient was observed for Bos d2 and endotoxin measured in outdoor-settled dust samples based on proximity to ISD. Indoor-settled dust concentrations of Bos d2 and endotoxin were also highest in proximal homes. While the associated health effects of exposure to cow allergen in settled dust is unknown, endotoxin at concentrations observed in these proximal homes (100 EU/mg) has been associated with increased negative respiratory health effects. These findings document that biological contaminants emitted from ISDs are elevated in indoor- and outdoor-settled dust samples at homes close to these facilities and extend to as much as three miles (4.8 km) away.
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Affiliation(s)
- D' Ann L Williams
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Gregory B Diette
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shawn E McKenzie
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alison S Geyh
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Patrick N Breysse
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Thorne PS, Mendy A, Metwali N, Salo P, Co C, Jaramillo R, Rose KM, Zeldin DC. Endotoxin Exposure: Predictors and Prevalence of Associated Asthma Outcomes in the United States. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2015; 192:1287-97. [PMID: 26258643 PMCID: PMC4731700 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201502-0251oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Inhaled endotoxin induces airway inflammation and is an established risk factor for asthma. The 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey included measures of endotoxin and allergens in homes as well as specific IgE to inhalant allergens. OBJECTIVES To understand the relationships between endotoxin exposure, asthma outcomes, and sensitization status for 15 aeroallergens in a nationally representative sample. METHODS Participants were administered questionnaires in their homes. Reservoir dust was vacuum sampled to generate composite bedding and bedroom floor samples. We analyzed 7,450 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dust and quality assurance samples for their endotoxin content using extreme quality assurance measures. Data for 6,963 subjects were available, making this the largest study of endotoxin exposure to date. Log-transformed endotoxin concentrations were analyzed using logistic models and forward stepwise linear regression. Analyses were weighted to provide national prevalence estimates and unbiased variances. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Endotoxin exposure was significantly associated with wheeze in the past 12 months, wheeze during exercise, doctor and/or emergency room visits for wheeze, and use of prescription medications for wheeze. Models adjusted for age, sex, race and/or ethnicity, and poverty-to-income ratio and stratified by allergy status showed that these relationships were not dependent upon sensitization status but were worsened among those living in poverty. Significant predictors of higher endotoxin exposures were lower family income; Hispanic ethnicity; participant age; dog(s), cat(s), cockroaches, and/or smoker(s) in the home; and carpeted floors. CONCLUSIONS In this U.S. nationwide representative sample, higher endotoxin exposure was significantly associated with measures of wheeze, with no observed protective effect regardless of sensitization status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S. Thorne
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Angelico Mendy
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Nervana Metwali
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Päivi Salo
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; and
| | - Caroll Co
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina
| | | | | | - Darryl C. Zeldin
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; and
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de Boer JD, Berger M, Majoor CJ, Kager LM, Meijers JCM, Terpstra S, Nieuwland R, Boing AN, Lutter R, Wouters D, van Mierlo GJ, Zeerleder SS, Bel EH, van't Veer C, de Vos AF, van der Zee JS, van der Poll T. Activated protein C inhibits neutrophil migration in allergic asthma: a randomised trial. Eur Respir J 2015; 46:1636-44. [PMID: 26381519 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00459-2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2015] [Accepted: 06/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Asthma patients show evidence of a procoagulant state in their airways, accompanied by an impaired function of the anticoagulant protein C system. We aimed to study the effect of recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) in allergic asthma patients.We conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept study in house dust mite (HDM) allergic asthma patients. Patients were randomised to receive intravenous rhAPC (24 µg·kg(-1)·h(-1); n=12) or placebo (n=12) for 11 h. 4 h after the start of infusion, a first bronchoscopy was performed to challenge one lung segment with saline (control) and a contralateral segment with a combination of HDM extract and lipopolysaccharide (HDM+LPS), thereby mimicking environmental house dust exposure. A second bronchoscopy was conducted 8 h after intrabronchial challenge to obtain bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).rhAPC did not influence HDM+LPS induced procoagulant changes in the lung. In contrast, rhAPC reduced BALF leukocyte counts by 43% relative to placebo, caused by an inhibitory effect on neutrophil influx (64% reduction), while leaving eosinophil influx unaltered. rhAPC also reduced neutrophil degranulation products in the airways.Intravenous rhAPC attenuates HDM+LPS-induced neutrophil migration and protein release in allergic asthma patients by an effect that does not rely on coagulation inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Daan de Boer
- Center of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, and Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke Berger
- Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Christof J Majoor
- Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Liesbeth M Kager
- Center of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, and Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joost C M Meijers
- Dept of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Dept of Plasma Proteins, Sanquin, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne Terpstra
- Center of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, and Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rienk Nieuwland
- Dept of Clinical Chemistry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anita N Boing
- Dept of Clinical Chemistry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - René Lutter
- Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Dept of Experimental Immunology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Diana Wouters
- Dept of Immunopathology, Sanquin, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Sacha S Zeerleder
- Dept of Immunopathology, Sanquin, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Dept of Hematology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth H Bel
- Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Cornelis van't Veer
- Center of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, and Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Alex F de Vos
- Center of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, and Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Tom van der Poll
- Center of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, and Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Division of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Holst G, Høst A, Doekes G, Meyer HW, Madsen AM, Sigsgaard T. Determinants of house dust, endotoxin, and β-(1→3)-D-glucan in homes of Danish children. INDOOR AIR 2015; 25:245-59. [PMID: 25039673 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the geographic variation and determinants of bacterial endotoxin and β-(1,3)-D-glucan in Danish house dust. In a population of 317 children, we: (i) described loads and concentrations of floor dust, endotoxin, and β-(1→3)-D-glucan and (ii) their correlations and (iii) assessed their determinants; (iv) Finally, we compared our findings with previous European studies. Bedroom floor dust was analyzed for endotoxin content by the kinetic limulus amoebocyte lysate assay and for β-(1→3)-D-glucan by the inhibition enzyme immunoassay. The parents answered questions regarding potential determinants. We found: geometric means (geometric standard deviations) 186 mg/m(2) (4.3) for dust; 5.46 × 10(3) EU/m(2) (8.0) and 31.1 × 10(3) EU/g (2.6) for endotoxin; and 142 μg/m(2) (14.3) and 0.71 × 10(3) μg/g (7.3) for β-(1→3)-D-glucan. High correlations (r > 0.75) were found between floor dust and endotoxin and β-(1→3)-D-glucan loads, while endotoxin and β-(1→3)-D-glucan concentrations were moderately correlated (r = 0.36-0.41) with the dust load. Having a carpet was positively associated with dust load and with endotoxin and β-(1→3)-D-glucan concentrations. Pet keeping, dwelling type, and dwelling location were determinants of endotoxin concentrations. No other determinants were associated with β-(1→3)-D-glucan concentrations. Compared with other European studies, we found lower β-(1→3)-D-glucan loads and concentrations but higher endotoxin loads and concentrations suggesting a geographically determined different composition of Danish floor dust compared with other European regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Holst
- Section of Environment, Occupation and Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Behbod B, Sordillo JE, Hoffman EB, Datta S, Webb TE, Kwan DL, Kamel JA, Muilenberg ML, Scott JA, Chew GL, Platts-Mills TA, Schwartz J, Coull B, Burge H, Gold DR. Asthma and allergy development: contrasting influences of yeasts and other fungal exposures. Clin Exp Allergy 2015; 45:154-63. [PMID: 25200568 PMCID: PMC4733530 DOI: 10.1111/cea.12401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Revised: 07/19/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infancy is a developmental stage with heightened susceptibility to environmental influences on the risk of chronic childhood disease. Few birth cohort studies have detailed measures of fungal diversity data in infants' bedrooms, limiting the potential to measure long-term associations of these complex exposures with development of asthma or allergy. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the relation of home fungal levels in infancy to repeated measures of wheeze and development of asthma and rhinitis by age 13, and sensitization by age 12 years. METHODS In the Epidemiology of Home Allergens and Asthma prospective birth cohort study, we recruited 408 children with family history of allergic disease or asthma. When children were aged 2-3 months, we measured culturable fungi in bedroom air and dust, and in outdoor air. Main outcomes included ascertainment of symptoms/disease onset by questionnaire from birth through age 13. We estimated hazard ratios and, for wheeze and sensitization, odds ratios for an interquartile increase in log-transformed fungal concentrations, adjusting for other outcome predictors and potential confounders. RESULTS Elevated levels of yeasts in bedroom floor dust were associated with reduced: i) wheeze at any age; ii) fungal sensitization; and iii) asthma development by age 13 (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.86; 95% confidence interval (CI), [0.75 to 0.98]). Outdoor airborne Cladosporium and dustborne Aspergillus predicted increased rhinitis. Risk of fungal sensitization by age 12, in response to environmental Alternaria and Aspergillus, was elevated in children with a maternal history of fungal sensitization. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Despite the irritant and allergenic properties of fungi, early-life elevated dust yeast exposures or their components may be protective against allergy and asthma in children at risk for these outcomes. Ascertainment of fungal components associated with immunoprotective effects may have therapeutic relevance for asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behrooz Behbod
- Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive West, Boston, MA 02215
| | | | - Elaine B. Hoffman
- Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive West, Boston, MA 02215
- TIMI Study Group, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 350 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Soma Datta
- Channing Laboratory, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Tara E. Webb
- Channing Laboratory, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Doris L. Kwan
- Channing Laboratory, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Jimmy A. Kamel
- Channing Laboratory, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | | | - James A. Scott
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 223 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1R4, CANADA
| | - Ginger L. Chew
- Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032
| | | | - Joel Schwartz
- Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive West, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Brent Coull
- Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive West, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Harriet Burge
- Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive West, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Diane R. Gold
- Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive West, Boston, MA 02215
- Channing Laboratory, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
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Simon X, Duquenne P. Assessment of workers' exposure to bioaerosols in a French cheese factory. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 58:677-92. [PMID: 24812257 DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/meu027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Hundreds of different cheeses are produced in France, where 23.9kg of cheese were consumed per inhabitant in 2009, when it was ranked the second cheese-consuming nation. To meet this considerable demand, a large number of cheese factories exist where many workers, especially cheese washers, may be exposed to fungal bioaerosols that can lead to adverse toxinic and allergic effects. Airborne bacteria, fragments, or microbial by-products (endotoxins) are also found and contribute to total worker exposure. However, there is almost no published data concerning worker exposure or characteristics of bioaerosols emitted during these activities. Here, we measured the parameters (concentrations, species present, and size distribution) of the culturable fungal bioaerosol emitted in a French natural-rind cheese-maturing cellar. Concentrations of airborne bacteria and endotoxins were also measured. The main tasks were investigated using stationary or personal sampling over three consecutive days. Depending on the work area, high concentrations of culturable mesophilic microorganisms were measured (using closed-face cassettes): from 10(4) to 2×10(8) CFU m(-3) for fungi and from 10(3) to 10(6) CFU m(-3) for bacteria. These concentrations are 10- to 100000-fold higher than those measured at two reference points (indoor and outdoor) that are assumed not to be contaminated by the plant's activities. Endotoxin concentrations were between 10 and 300 EU m(-3) in the plant. Exposure was further assessed by identifying the predominant culturable fungi (allergenic Mucor fuscus and Penicillium sp.) and by measuring particle size distributions (cascade impactor). Airborne fungal entities (spores, mycelium strands and fragments, agglomerates, etc.) were found with aerodynamic diameters from 3 to over 20 µm. A metrological approach was used to fully characterize the culturable fungal aerosols generated during cheese maturing in this plant. The results show that workers are exposed to concentrations of airborne culturable fungi, sometimes very high, throughout the manufacturing process. In addition to fungi, culturable bacteria and endotoxins are also present in the work atmosphere. All these microbial organisms thus contribute in a complex manner to total worker exposure. Despite the lack of both occupational exposure limit values and standardized measuring methods, our results suggest that an immunological risk may occur among workers, especially for cheese brushers, cheese washers, and packagers who are the most exposed workers in the factory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Simon
- INRS-Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité, Aerosols Metrology Laboratory, Pollutants Metrology Division, Rue du Morvan, CS 60027, 54519 Vandoeuvre les Nancy Cedex, France
| | - Philippe Duquenne
- INRS-Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité, Aerosols Metrology Laboratory, Pollutants Metrology Division, Rue du Morvan, CS 60027, 54519 Vandoeuvre les Nancy Cedex, France
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Jacobs JH, Krop EJM, Borras-Santos A, Zock JP, Taubel M, Hyvarinnen A, Pekkanen J, Doekes G, Heederik DJJ. Endotoxin levels in settled airborne dust in European schools: the HITEA school study. INDOOR AIR 2014; 24:148-157. [PMID: 23927557 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Indoor exposure to microbial agents is known to influence respiratory health. Besides home exposure, exposure in schools can affect respiratory health. In this study, we measured endotoxin in settled dust in primary schools in three European countries from three different geographical regions with different climates. Our aim was to characterize endotoxin levels in primary schools and evaluate associations with potential determinants. Endotoxin levels were repeatedly assessed in 23 schools in Spain (n = 7), the Netherlands (n = 10), and Finland (n = 6) using electrostatic dustfall collectors. In total, 645 measurements were taken in 237 classrooms. Endotoxin levels differed significantly between countries; Dutch schools had the highest levels, while Finnish schools showed the lowest levels. In each country, differences in endotoxin levels were observed between schools and over the sampling periods. Estimates improved after adjustment for sampling period. Factors affecting endotoxin levels in a school differed per country. In general, endotoxin levels were higher in lower grades and in classrooms with higher occupancy. School endotoxin levels may contribute significantly to total endotoxin exposure in children and teachers. As the correlation between the repeated measurements is reasonable, single endotoxin measurements form a reasonable basis for estimating annual endotoxin levels in schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Jacobs
- Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Children's residential exposure to selected allergens and microbial indicators: endotoxins and (1→3)-β-D-glucans. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2014; 26:870-89. [PMID: 24464566 DOI: 10.2478/s13382-013-0156-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The study was aimed at assessment of exposure to endotoxins, (1→3)-β-D-glucans and mite, cockroach, cat, dog allergens present in settled dust in premises of children as agents which may be significantly correlated with the occurrence of allergic symptoms and diseases in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study covered 50 homes of one-or two-year-old children in Poland. Samples of settled dust were taken from the floor and the child's bed. The levels of (1→3)-β-D-glucans (floor), endotoxins (floor) and allergens of mite, cat, dog and cockroach (floor and bed) were analyzed. RESULTS Average geometric concentrations (geometric standard deviation) of endotoxins, (1→3)-β-D-glucans, Der p1, Fel d1, Can f1 and Bla g1 in children homes were on the floor 42 166.0 EU/g (3.2), 20 478.4 ng/g (2.38), 93.9 ng/g (6.58), 119.8 ng/g (13.0), 288.9 ng/g (3.4), 0.72 U/g (4.4) and in their beds (only allergens) 597.8 ng/g (14.2), 54.1 ng/g (4.4), 158.6 ng/g (3.1) 0.6 U/g (2.9), respectively. When the floor was covered with the carpet, higher concentrations of endotoxins, (1→3)-β-D-glucans and allergens (each type) were found in the settled dust (p < 0.05). The trend was opposite in case of allergens (except dog) analyzed from bed dust and significantly higher concentrations were found in the rooms with smooth floor (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Among the analyzed factors only the type of floor significantly modified both the level of biological indicators and allergens. The results of this study could be the base for verifying a hypothesis that carpeting may have a protective role against high levels of cockroach, dog and cat allergens.
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Salonen H, Duchaine C, Létourneau V, Mazaheri M, Clifford S, Morawska L. Endotoxins in indoor air and settled dust in primary schools in a subtropical climate. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:9882-9890. [PMID: 23927534 DOI: 10.1021/es4023706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Endotoxins can significantly affect the air quality in school environments. However, there is currently no reliable method for the measurement of endotoxins, and there is a lack of reference values for endotoxin concentrations to aid in the interpretation of measurement results in school settings. We benchmarked the "baseline" range of endotoxin concentration in indoor air, together with endotoxin load in floor dust, and evaluated the correlation between endotoxin levels in indoor air and settled dust, as well as the effects of temperature and humidity on these levels in subtropical school settings. Bayesian hierarchical modeling indicated that the concentration in indoor air and the load in floor dust were generally (<95th percentile) <13 EU/m(3) and <24,570 EU/m(2), respectively. Exceeding these levels would indicate abnormal sources of endotoxins in the school environment and the need for further investigation. Metaregression indicated no relationship between endotoxin concentration and load, which points to the necessity for measuring endotoxin levels in both the air and settled dust. Temperature increases were associated with lower concentrations in indoor air and higher loads in floor dust. Higher levels of humidity may be associated with lower airborne endotoxin concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Salonen
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology , 2 George Street, Brisbane Q 4001, Australia
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Bang BR, Lee HS, Lee SY, Chun E, Kim YK, Cho SH, Min KU, Kim YY, Park HW. IL-13 and STAT6 signaling involve in low dose lipopolysaccharide induced murine model of asthma. Asia Pac Allergy 2013; 3:194-9. [PMID: 23956966 PMCID: PMC3736372 DOI: 10.5415/apallergy.2013.3.3.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We reported that level of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure determined the type of airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma. Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluated the role of IL-13 in low dose LPS induced murine model of asthma using IL-13 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) deficient mice. Methods Mice were sensitized with an intranasal application of LPS-depleted ovalbumin (OA) and different doses of LPS (0.1 and 10 µg), and then challenged intranasally with OA alone. The phenotype changes between wild type (WT) and IL-13-/- mice and between WT and STAT6-/- mice were evaluated. Results We confirmed again that low and high dose LPS resulted in different phenotypes of murine asthma. In the present study, we observed that phenotypes of murine asthma induced by low dose LPS were abolished in the homozygous null mutation of the IL-13 and STAT6 gene. However, those changes were not shown in mice sensitized OA plus high dose LPS. Conclusion IL-13 plays an important role in low dose LPS induced murine model of asthma. Our results provided a new insight in understanding of the potential role of IL-13 in innate immunity in human allergic asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Ram Bang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul 110-799, Korea
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Cho SJ, Cox-Ganser JM, Kreiss K, Park JH. Evaluation of individual-based and group-based exposure estimation of microbial agents in health effects associated with a damp building. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2013; 23:409-415. [PMID: 22968350 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2012.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2012] [Accepted: 06/13/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated attenuation in linear associations between microbial exposure and respiratory symptoms occurring when individual measurements of microbial agents were used for estimating employees' exposure compared with group means. Symptoms, which improved when away from the building (building-related, BR), and measurements of culturable fungi, ergosterol, and endotoxin in floor dust were obtained between 2001 and 2007 from four cross-sectional studies on occupants of a water-damaged building. We compared odds ratios from longitudinal health effect models using individual measurements at employees' workstations with those using floor (group) means. Estimated odds for BR respiratory symptoms in group-based analyses increased by 2 to 5 times compared with those from individual-based analyses for culturable fungi and ergosterol, although they were less precise. For endotoxin, we found substantially increased and significant odds in group-based analyses, while we found no associations in individual-based analyses for various symptoms. Our study suggested that the building floor was useful in constructing exposure groups for microbial agents in this water-damaged building for epidemiologic analysis. Our study showed that group-average exposure estimation provides less attenuated associations between exposures to microbial agents and health in damp indoor environments where measurement error and intrinsic temporal variability are often large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sook Ja Cho
- Field Studies Branch, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
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Ownby DR, Peterson EL, Wegienka G, Woodcroft KJ, Nicholas C, Zoratti E, Johnson CC. Are cats and dogs the major source of endotoxin in homes? INDOOR AIR 2013; 23:219-226. [PMID: 23167871 PMCID: PMC4005287 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2012] [Accepted: 11/13/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Previous studies have suggested that exposure to cats and dogs during early childhood reduces the risk of allergic disease, possibly by increasing home endotoxin exposure. This study asked the question of whether cats and dogs are the dominant influence on dust endotoxin concentrations in homes after considering other variables reportedly associated with endotoxin. The presence of cats or dogs in homes, household and home characteristics, and dust endotoxin concentrations from 5 locations were assessed in 966 urban and suburban homes. Whether considered together as pets or as cats and dogs separately, the presence of cats and dogs significantly contributed to living room and bedroom floor endotoxin concentrations, but not to bed endotoxin concentrations. However, the two variables consistently related to endotoxin in all home sites were the home occupant density (occupants/room) and cleanliness of the home. Our data suggest that reducing occupant density and improving home cleanliness would reduce home endotoxin concentrations more than removing pet cats or dogs from the home. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Many studies have shown that early childhood exposure to indoor cats or dogs is associated with a reduced risk of later allergic disease and asthma. An important question is whether alteration in allergic risk associated with cat and dog exposure results from increased endotoxin exposure or from some other associated exposure. Our findings show that cats and dogs are not the dominant source of endotoxin in homes; rather, the density of human occupation and poor cleaning contribute more consistently to higher home endotoxin concentrations especially in the beds.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Ownby
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, GA 30912-3790, USA.
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Gehring U, Casas M, Brunekreef B, Bergström A, Bonde JP, Botton J, Chévrier C, Cordier S, Heinrich J, Hohmann C, Keil T, Sunyer J, Tischer CG, Toft G, Wickman M, Vrijheid M, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Environmental exposure assessment in European birth cohorts: results from the ENRIECO project. Environ Health 2013; 12:8. [PMID: 23343014 PMCID: PMC3564791 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-12-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Environmental exposures during pregnancy and early life may have adverse health effects. Single birth cohort studies often lack statistical power to tease out such effects reliably. To improve the use of existing data and to facilitate collaboration among these studies, an inventory of the environmental exposure and health data in these studies was made as part of the ENRIECO (Environmental Health Risks in European Birth Cohorts) project. The focus with regard to exposure was on outdoor air pollution, water contamination, allergens and biological organisms, metals, pesticides, smoking and second hand tobacco smoke (SHS), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), noise, radiation, and occupational exposures. The review lists methods and data on environmental exposures in 37 European birth cohort studies. Most data is currently available for smoking and SHS (N=37 cohorts), occupational exposures (N=33), outdoor air pollution, and allergens and microbial agents (N=27). Exposure modeling is increasingly used for long-term air pollution exposure assessment; biomonitoring is used for assessment of exposure to metals, POPs and other chemicals; and environmental monitoring for house dust mite exposure assessment. Collaborative analyses with data from several birth cohorts have already been performed successfully for outdoor air pollution, water contamination, allergens, biological contaminants, molds, POPs and SHS. Key success factors for collaborative analyses are common definitions of main exposure and health variables. Our review emphasizes that such common definitions need ideally be arrived at in the study design phase. However, careful comparison of methods used in existing studies also offers excellent opportunities for collaborative analyses. Investigators can use this review to evaluate the potential for future collaborative analyses with respect to data availability and methods used in the different cohorts and to identify potential partners for a specific research question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Gehring
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maribel Casas
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Bert Brunekreef
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Bergström
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jens Peter Bonde
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen NV, Denmark
| | - Jérémie Botton
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Cecile Chévrier
- INSERM U1085 - IRSET, University of Rennes I, Rennes, France
| | | | - Joachim Heinrich
- Helmholtz Zentrum, München & German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology I, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Cynthia Hohmann
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Keil
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Pamplona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christina G Tischer
- Helmholtz Zentrum, München & German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology I, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Gunnar Toft
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Magnus Wickman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Pamplona, Spain
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Follenweider LM, Lambertino A. Epidemiology of asthma in the United States. Nurs Clin North Am 2013; 48:1-10. [PMID: 23465442 DOI: 10.1016/j.cnur.2012.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Incidence and prevalence rates of asthma can vary greatly according to population and location. The National Heart and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health defines asthma as a common chronic disorder of the airways that involves a complex interaction of airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and an underlying inflammation. This article uses the most common definitions and diagnostic methods for asthma. In 2009 there were 2.1 million asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits. ED visits lend an opportunity for providers to identify and intervene in the care of patients whose asthma is poorly controlled.
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Barnig C, Reboux G, Roussel S, Casset A, Sohy C, Dalphin JC, de Blay F. Indoor dust and air concentrations of endotoxin in urban and rural environments. Lett Appl Microbiol 2013; 56:161-7. [PMID: 23121051 DOI: 10.1111/lam.12024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2012] [Revised: 10/30/2012] [Accepted: 10/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Rural dairy farming is associated with high exposure to indoor endotoxins as compared to rural nonfarming houses and urban houses. The time spent on the mattress (7 h for an adult) and of the proximity of the contaminated source should be taken into account with the other causes of exposure. Studies in European children from a farming background have shown that these children have a reduced risk of asthma and atopic sensitization compared to their urban counterparts. It has been suggested that this might be due to exposure to high levels of endotoxin in the farming environment. The aim of this study was to compare indoor endotoxin concentrations in air and dust samples from randomly selected urban and rural dwellings. In the rural area, endotoxins were analysed in farmhouses and nonfarmhouses as well as housing characteristics, lifestyle factors and agricultural practices likely to influence air and dust endotoxin levels. Endotoxin levels were significantly higher in floor (6600 ± 6100 vs 3600 ± 5600 and 3800 ± 17,000 ng g⁻¹; P < 0·001) and mattress dust (2900 ± 4100 vs 1100 ± 2400 and 800 ± 2600 ng g⁻¹; P < 0·001) from farmhouses compared to other rural and urban homes. However, no difference was observed between endotoxin concentrations in the air of urban and rural houses, and airborne endotoxin levels did not correlate to dust levels. Lack of ventilation and direct entry into the house were correlated with an increase in dust endotoxin levels. These results confirm that dairy farming is associated with high exposure to endotoxins in indoor dust samples. No difference was observed between indoor airborne concentrations between urban and rural houses. These results suggest that measuring endotoxin in dust is the most relevant method to assess endotoxin exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Barnig
- Department of Chest Disease, University Hospital Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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Grimsley LF, Chulada PC, Kennedy S, White L, Wildfire J, Cohn RD, Mitchell H, Thornton E, El-Dahr J, Mvula MM, Sterling Y, Martin WJ, Stephens KU, Lichtveld M. Indoor environmental exposures for children with asthma enrolled in the HEAL study, post-Katrina New Orleans. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2012; 120:1600-6. [PMID: 22894816 PMCID: PMC3556612 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1104840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2011] [Accepted: 08/09/2012] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rain and flooding from Hurricane Katrina resulted in widespread growth of mold and bacteria and production of allergens in New Orleans, Louisiana, which may have led to increased exposures and morbidity in children with asthma. OBJECTIVES The goal of the Head-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL) study was to characterize post-Katrina exposures to mold and allergens in children with asthma. METHODS The homes of 182 children with asthma in New Orleans and surrounding parishes were evaluated by visual inspection, temperature and moisture measurements, and air and dust sampling. Air was collected using vacuum-pump spore traps and analyzed for > 30 mold taxa using bright field microscopy. Dust was collected from the children's beds and bedroom floors and analyzed for mouse (Mus m 1), dust mite (Der p 1), cockroach (Bla g 1), and mold (Alternaria mix) allergens using ELISA. RESULTS More than half (62%) of the children were living in homes that had been damaged by rain, flooding, or both. Geometric mean indoor and outdoor airborne mold levels were 501 and 3,958 spores/m3, respectively. Alternaria antigen was detected in dust from 98% of homes, with 58% having concentrations > 10 µg/g. Mus m 1, Der p 1, and Bla g 1 were detected in 60%, 35%, and 20% of homes, respectively, at low mean concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Except for Alternaria antigen in dust, concentrations of airborne mold (ratio of indoor to outdoor mold) and dust allergens in the homes of HEAL children were lower than measurements found in other studies, possibly because of extensive post-Katrina mold remediation and renovations, or because children moved into cleaner homes upon returning to New Orleans.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Faye Grimsley
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
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Gyimesi E, Gönczi F, Szilasi M, Pál G, Baráth S, Sipka S. The effects of various doses of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on the expression of CD63 and the release of histamine by basophils of atopic and non-atopic patients. Inflamm Res 2012; 62:213-8. [PMID: 23109053 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-012-0569-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2012] [Revised: 09/15/2012] [Accepted: 10/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We tested the effect of various doses of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) on the expression of CD63 and the in vitro release of histamine by basophils stimulated with ragweed allergen in patients with or without ragweed and mite allergies. METHODS The peripheral blood of 11 patients with ragweed allergy, 10 patients with mite allergy and 14 control patients was incubated with ragweed allergen extract following pretreatment with varying doses of LPS. The expression of CD63 in basophils was measured by flow cytometry, and the release of histamine was determined by ELISA. RESULTS In the samples of patients with ragweed allergy that were exposed to specific allergen, only high doses of LPS significantly elevated the expression of CD63 (200 ng/ml; 1,000 EU/ml) and the release of histamine (2,000 ng/ml; 10,000 EU/ml). There was no effect of LPS in any other cases. CONCLUSIONS Bacterial LPS (endotoxin) concentrations higher than 200 ng/ml (1,000 EU/ml), which rarely occurs in nature, could only activate the basophils from atopic patients whilst in the presence of the specific allergen. Thus, the restoration of the urban, "microbe-poor" milieu with endotoxin (as LPS) can be a promising and harmless approach for allergy prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Gyimesi
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Medical and Health Science Centre, University of Debrecen, Móricz Zs U. 22, Debrecen 4032, Hungary
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