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Behinaein P, Hutchings H, Knapp T, Okereke IC. The growing impact of air quality on lung-related illness: a narrative review. J Thorac Dis 2023; 15:5055-5063. [PMID: 37868892 PMCID: PMC10586990 DOI: 10.21037/jtd-23-544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objective Poor air quality can be harmful to human well-being. There are a variety of respiratory disorders associated with toxins present within the atmosphere, such as bronchitis and asthma, which eventually lead to heart or lung complications over time. Fine particles like particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) accumulate in the small airways of the lung. These irritants can cause epigenetic modifications in gene regulation, leading to changes responsible for both benign and malignant lung diseases. In this review we will discuss known associations between environmental factors and pulmonary complications, consider preventative measures and offer further areas for future investigation. This review presents a summary of the literature outlining the current work done on air quality and its effects on lung-related illnesses. We discuss regional differences in air quality and consider the causes, such as manufacturing, traffic density, increase in fuel usage and natural events. We further explore disparities based on geography, race, and other social determinants. Methods A comprehensive literature review was performed using keywords related to air quality, pollution and lung disease within the PubMed database as well as MEDLINE and Google Scholar. Key Content and Findings The Clean Air Act of 1970 marked an essential transition for air quality improvement. The legislation led to decreased emissions and control measures to address atmosphere contamination. Despite these actions, poor atmospheric conditions still persist today and have become an ongoing issue. These poor conditions affect individuals living in metropolitan areas more significantly than suburban or rural areas. Pollution from industrial operations and transportation vehicles have led to increased emission outputs recently. Climate change further aggravates air quality problems by raising pollutant and allergen concentrations. The detrimental consequences of poor air quality include increased incidence of disease processes like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. To keep up with the well-being of people globally, it is important that actions be taken to battle contamination in the climate so its impact on public health can be limited. Conclusions Poor air quality and recent worsening of industrial emissions have had a negative impact on lung-related illnesses. Future mitigation strategies should be taken to reduce pollution and treat diseases earlier in their course. Some of these strategies include more reliance on alternative energy sources, creation of mass transit systems and increased rates of recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hollis Hutchings
- Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Thomas Knapp
- School of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
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2
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Keck-Kester T, Hicks SD. Infant Saliva Microbiome Activity Modulates Nutritional Impacts on Neurodevelopment. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2111. [PMID: 37630671 PMCID: PMC10459261 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopment is influenced by complex interactions between environmental factors, including social determinants of health (SDOH), nutrition, and even the microbiome. This longitudinal cohort study of 142 infants tested the hypothesis that microbial activity modulates the effects of nutrition on neurodevelopment. Salivary microbiome activity was measured at 6 months using RNA sequencing. Infant nutrition was assessed longitudinally with the Infant Feeding Practices survey. The primary outcome was presence/absence of neurodevelopmental delay (NDD) at 18 months on the Survey of Wellbeing in Young Children. A logistic regression model employing two microbial factors, one nutritional factor, and two SDOH accounted for 33.3% of the variance between neurodevelopmental groups (p < 0.001, AIC = 77.7). NDD was associated with Hispanic ethnicity (OR 18.1, 2.36-139.3; p = 0.003), no fish consumption (OR 10.6, 2.0-54.1; p = 0.003), and increased Candidatus Gracilibacteria activity (OR 1.43, 1.00-2.07; p = 0.007). Home built after 1977 (OR 0.02, 0.001-0.53; p = 0.004) and Chlorobi activity (OR 0.76, 0.62-0.93, p = 0.001) were associated with reduced risk of NDD. Microbial alpha diversity modulated the effect of fish consumption on NDD (X2 = 5.7, p = 0.017). These data suggest the benefits of fish consumption for neurodevelopment may be mediated by microbial diversity. Confirmation in a larger, randomized trial is required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven D. Hicks
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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3
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Fu X, Du B, Meng Y, Li Y, Zhu X, Ou Z, Zhang M, Wen H, Ma'pol A, Hashim JH, Hashim Z, Wieslander G, Chen Q, Jiang J, Wang J, Norbäck D, Xia Y, Chen Q, Sun Y. Associations between environmental characteristics, high-resolution indoor microbiome, metabolome and allergic and non-allergic rhinitis symptoms for junior high school students. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:791-804. [PMID: 36883483 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00480a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Rhinitis is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases globally. Microbiome exposure affects the occurrence of rhinitis. However, previous studies did not differentiate allergic rhinitis (AR) and non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) in the microbial association analysis. In this study, we investigate 347 students in 8 junior high schools, Terengganu, Malaysia, who were categorized as healthy (70.9%), AR (13.8%) and NAR (15.3%) based on a self-administered questionnaire and skin prick tests of pollen, pet, mould and house dust mite allergens. Classroom microbial and metabolite exposure in vacuumed dust was characterized by PacBio long-read amplicon sequencing, quantitative PCR and LC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics. Our findings indicate a similar microbial association pattern between AR and NAR. The richness in Gammaproteobacteria was negatively associated with AR and NAR symptoms, whereas total fungal richness was positively associated with AR and NAR symptoms (p < 0.05). Brasilonema bromeliae and Aeromonas enteropelogenes were negatively associated with AR and NAR, and Deinococcus was positively associated with AR and NAR (p < 0.01). Pipecolic acid was protectively associated with AR and NAR symptoms (OR = 0.06 and 0.13, p = 0.009 and 0.045). A neural network analysis showed that B. bromeliae was co-occurring with pipecolic acid, suggesting that the protective role of this species may be mediated by releasing pipecolic acid. Indoor relative humidity and the weight of vacuum dust were associated with AR and NAR, respectively (p < 0.05), but the health effects were mediated by two protective bacterial species, Aliinostoc morphoplasticum and Ilumatobacter fluminis. Overall, our study reported a similar microbial association pattern between AR and NAR and also revealed the complex interactions between microbial species, environmental characteristics, and rhinitis symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Fu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Public Health Detection and Assessment, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
| | - Bingqian Du
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Public Health Detection and Assessment, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
| | - Yi Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
| | - Yanling Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
| | - Xunhua Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
| | - Zheyuan Ou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
| | - Mei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
| | - Huarong Wen
- Baling Health Center, Dangyang, Hubei, 444100, PR China
| | - Aminnuddin Ma'pol
- Gombak District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Batu Caves, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | | | - Zailina Hashim
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Gunilla Wieslander
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medical Science, University Hospital, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Qingmei Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medical Science, University Hospital, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dan Norbäck
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medical Science, University Hospital, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yun Xia
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Public Health Detection and Assessment, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
| | - Qingsong Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Public Health Detection and Assessment, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
| | - Yu Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, PR China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China
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Chandran D, Warren K, McKeone D, Hicks SD. The Association between Infant Colic and the Multi-Omic Composition of Human Milk. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030559. [PMID: 36979494 PMCID: PMC10046316 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Infant colic is a common condition with unclear biologic underpinnings and limited treatment options. We hypothesized that complex molecular networks within human milk (i.e., microbes, micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs), cytokines) would contribute to colic risk, while controlling for medical, social, and nutritional variables. This hypothesis was tested in a cohort of 182 breastfed infants, assessed with a modified Infant Colic Scale at 1 month. RNA sequencing was used to interrogate microbial and miRNA features. Luminex assays were used to measure growth factors and cytokines. Milk from mothers of infants with colic (n = 28) displayed higher levels of Staphylococcus (adj. p = 0.038, d = 0.30), miR-224-3p (adj. p = 0.023, d = 0.33), miR-125b-5p (adj. p = 0.028, d = 0.29), let-7a-5p (adj. p = 0.028, d = 0.27), and miR-205-5p (adj. p = 0.029, d = 0.26) compared to milk from non-colic mother-infant dyads (n = 154). Colic symptom severity was directly associated with milk hepatocyte growth factor levels (R = 0.21, p = 0.025). A regression model involving let-7a-5p, miR-29a-3p, and Lactobacillus accurately modeled colic risk (X2 = 16.7, p = 0.001). Molecular factors within human milk may impact colic risk, and provide support for a dysbiotic/inflammatory model of colic pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desirae Chandran
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Warren
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Daniel McKeone
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Steven D Hicks
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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5
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Zhao L, Yang Y, Zang YR, Zhang QQ, Liang X, Yuan GM, Jin P, Zi XX, Yu KN, Zhang HL, Shi L. Risk factors for asthma in patients with allergic rhinitis in eastern China. Am J Otolaryngol 2022; 43:103426. [PMID: 35460970 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103426] [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] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases among children and adults and can lead to a high health and socioeconomic burden. Allergic rhinitis (AR) often precedes the development of asthma. This study aims to clarify the risk factors for cocurrent asthma in patients with AR in eastern China. METHODS A cross-sectional study of 3739 patients with AR was performed in eastern China. Patients meeting the criteria for AR were evaluated using a skin-prick test (SPT) of 16 common aeroallergens. A logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk factors of asthma in patients with AR. RESULTS The prevalence of asthma in patients with AR was 14.23%. The patients sensitive to dust mites (D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus) had the highest prevalence (76.84% and 73.68%). A significant difference was found in sensitization to four types of allergens (D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, dog dander, Alternaria alternata) in patients with AR with and without asthma. The strongest risk factor for asthma in patients with AR was an allergy to Aspergillus fumigatus (adjusted OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.50-3.90), followed by allergy to D. pteronyssinus (adjusted OR, 2.06; 1.30-3.27), and allergy to dog dander (adjusted OR, 1.92; 1.24-2.97). Various risk factors that are independently associated with asthma in patients with AR were found in different age groups. CONCLUSIONS We observed a difference in risk factors in patients with AR with and without asthma. Clarifying the risk factors for asthma in patients with AR is important and may be beneficial to the optimal interventions of asthma.
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6
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Bryant-Stephens TC, Strane D, Robinson EK, Bhambhani S, Kenyon CC. Housing and asthma disparities. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021; 148:1121-1129. [PMID: 34599980 PMCID: PMC9809049 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The burden of asthma disproportionately affects minority and low-income communities, resulting in racial and socioeconomic disparities in asthma prevalence, asthma exacerbations, and asthma-related death. Social determinants of health are increasingly implicated as root causes of disparities, and healthy housing is perhaps the most critical social determinant in asthma health disparities. In many minority communities, poor housing conditions and value are a legacy of historical policies and practices imbued with structural racism, including redlining, displacement, and exclusionary zoning. As a result, poor-quality, substandard housing is a characteristic feature of many underrepresented minority communities. Consequently, structurally deficient housing stock cultivates home environments rife with indoor asthma triggers. In this review we consider the historical context of urban housing policies and practices and how these policies and practices have contributed to the substandard housing conditions for many minoritized children in the present day. We describe the impact of poor housing quality on asthma and interventions that have attempted to mitigate its influence on asthma symptoms and health care utilization. We discuss the need to promote asthma health equity by reinvesting in these neighborhoods and communities to provide healthy housing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyra C Bryant-Stephens
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
| | | | | | | | - Chén C. Kenyon
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
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7
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Fu QL, Du Y, Xu G, Zhang H, Cheng L, Wang YJ, Zhu DD, Lv W, Liu SX, Li PZ, Shi JB, Ou CQ. Prevalence and Occupational and Environmental Risk Factors of Self-Reported Asthma: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Survey in Seven Chinese Cities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13111084. [PMID: 27827944 PMCID: PMC5129294 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13111084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 10/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, few data on occupational and environmental risk factors of asthma are available, particularly in Asian adults. Based on a national cross-sectional survey, we assessed the prevalence and risk factors of asthma in Chinese adults. METHODS A total of 9974 participants aged 15 years and over in seven Chinese cities were selected using a stratified four-stage random sampling. All participants were interviewed face-to-face in their homes using a standardized self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were adopted to determine various risk factors for asthma. RESULTS The prevalence of self-reported lifetime asthma was 2.46% among the entire adult population, 3.02% among males and 1.93% among females. The prevalence varied by age group, ethnicity, marital status, education, and floor space per person (p < 0.05). After adjusting for socio-demographic variables and smoking, we found independent occupational and environmental determinants of asthma, including a clearance-related job (OR = 2.28, 95%CI: 1.07-4.89), occupational exposure to industrial or occupational poisonous gas (OR = 4.21, 95%CI: 2.43-7.30), having large amounts of carpet in the workplace (OR = 2.61, 95%CI: 1.20-5.69) and using coal for cooking (OR = 2.65, 95%CI: 1.26-5.57). CONCLUSIONS Asthma is a serious public health problem in China. Our study provides important updated information on the prevalence of asthma and its associated risk factors, which may help us better understand the epidemiology of asthma and prevent this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Ling Fu
- Otorhinolaryngology Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Yue Du
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Biostatistics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Geng Xu
- Otorhinolaryngology Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumchi 830054, China.
| | - Lei Cheng
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Yan-Jun Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
| | - Dong-Dong Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China.
| | - Wei Lv
- Department of Otolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100032, China.
| | - Shi-Xi Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, West China Hospital of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Pei-Zhong Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an 223300, China.
| | - Jian-Bo Shi
- Otorhinolaryngology Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Chun-Quan Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Biostatistics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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8
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Asthma as a disruption in iron homeostasis. Biometals 2016; 29:751-79. [PMID: 27595579 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-016-9948-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Over several decades, asthma has evolved from being recognized as a single disease to include a diverse group of phenotypes with dissimilar natural histories, pathophysiologies, responses to treatment, and distinctive molecular pathways. With the application of Occam's razor to asthma, it is proposed that there is one cause underlying the numerous phenotypes of this disease and that the responsible molecular pathway is a deficiency of iron in the lung tissues. This deficiency can be either absolute (e.g. asthma in the neonate and during both pregnancy and menstruation) or functional (e.g. asthma associated with infections, smoking, and obesity). Comparable associations between asthma co-morbidity (e.g. eczema, urticaria, restless leg syndrome, and pulmonary hypertension) with iron deficiency support such a shared mechanistic pathway. Therapies directed at asthma demonstrate a capacity to impact iron homeostasis, further strengthening the relationship. Finally, pathophysiologic events producing asthma, including inflammation, increases in Th2 cells, and muscle contraction, can correlate with iron availability. Recognition of a potential association between asthma and an absolute and/or functional iron deficiency suggests specific therapeutic interventions including inhaled iron.
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9
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Takaro TK, Scott JA, Allen RW, Anand SS, Becker AB, Befus AD, Brauer M, Duncan J, Lefebvre DL, Lou W, Mandhane PJ, McLean KE, Miller G, Sbihi H, Shu H, Subbarao P, Turvey SE, Wheeler AJ, Zeng L, Sears MR, Brook JR. The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) birth cohort study: assessment of environmental exposures. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2015; 25:580-92. [PMID: 25805254 PMCID: PMC4611361 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2015.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development birth cohort was designed to elucidate interactions between environment and genetics underlying development of asthma and allergy. Over 3600 pregnant mothers were recruited from the general population in four provinces with diverse environments. The child is followed to age 5 years, with prospective characterization of diverse exposures during this critical period. Key exposure domains include indoor and outdoor air pollutants, inhalation, ingestion and dermal uptake of chemicals, mold, dampness, biological allergens, pets and pests, housing structure, and living behavior, together with infections, nutrition, psychosocial environment, and medications. Assessments of early life exposures are focused on those linked to inflammatory responses driven by the acquired and innate immune systems. Mothers complete extensive environmental questionnaires including time-activity behavior at recruitment and when the child is 3, 6, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, and 60 months old. House dust collected during a thorough home assessment at 3-4 months, and biological specimens obtained for multiple exposure-related measurements, are archived for analyses. Geo-locations of homes and daycares and land-use regression for estimating traffic-related air pollution complement time-activity-behavior data to provide comprehensive individual exposure profiles. Several analytical frameworks are proposed to address the many interacting exposure variables and potential issues of co-linearity in this complex data set.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim K Takaro
- Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Ryan W Allen
- Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | - A Dean Befus
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael Brauer
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | - Wendy Lou
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Hind Sbihi
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Huan Shu
- Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Karlstad University, Karlstad, Värmland, Sweden
| | - Padmaja Subbarao
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stuart E Turvey
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amanda J Wheeler
- Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
- Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leilei Zeng
- University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Jeffrey R Brook
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Environment Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Morris PJ, Medina-Cleghorn D, Heslin A, King SM, Orr J, Mulvihill MM, Krauss RM, Nomura DK. Organophosphorus flame retardants inhibit specific liver carboxylesterases and cause serum hypertriglyceridemia. ACS Chem Biol 2014; 9:1097-103. [PMID: 24597639 PMCID: PMC4027947 DOI: 10.1021/cb500014r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Humans are prevalently exposed to organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) contained in consumer products and electronics, though their toxicological effects and mechanisms remain poorly understood. We show here that OPFRs inhibit specific liver carboxylesterases (Ces) and cause altered hepatic lipid metabolism. Ablation of the OPFR target Ces1g has been previously linked to dyslipidemia in mice. Consistent with OPFR inhibition of Ces1g, we also observe OPFR-induced serum hypertriglyceridemia in mice. Our findings suggest novel toxicities that may arise from OPFR exposure and highlight the utility of chemoproteomic and metabolomic platforms in the toxicological characterization of environmental chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J. Morris
- Department
of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, 127 Morgan Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Daniel Medina-Cleghorn
- Department
of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, 127 Morgan Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Ann Heslin
- Department
of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, 127 Morgan Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Sarah M. King
- Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, 5700 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, California 94609, United States
| | - Joseph Orr
- Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, 5700 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, California 94609, United States
| | - Melinda M. Mulvihill
- Department
of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, 127 Morgan Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Ronald M. Krauss
- Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, 5700 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, California 94609, United States
| | - Daniel K. Nomura
- Department
of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, 127 Morgan Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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Ong KH, Lewis RD, Dixit A, MacDonald M, Yang M, Qian Z. Inactivation of dust mites, dust mite allergen, and mold from carpet. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2014; 11:519-527. [PMID: 24467247 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2014.880787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Carpet is known to be a reservoir for biological contaminants, such as dust mites, dust mite allergen, and mold, if it is not kept clean. The accumulation of these contaminants in carpet might trigger allergies or asthma symptoms in both children and adults. The purpose of this study is to compare methods for removal of dust mites, dust mite allergens, and mold from carpet. Carpets were artificially worn to simulate 1 to 2 years of wear in a four-person household. The worn carpets were inoculated together with a common indoor mold (Cladosporium species) and house dust mites and incubated for 6 weeks to allow time for dust mite growth on the carpet. The carpets were randomly assigned to one of the four treatment groups. Available treatment regimens for controlling carpet contaminants were evaluated through a literature review and experimentation. Four moderately low-hazard, nondestructive methods were selected as treatments: vacuuming, steam-vapor, Neem oil (a natural tree extract), and benzalkonium chloride (a quaternary ammonium compound). Steam vapor treatment demonstrated the greatest dust mite population reduction (p < 0.05) when compared to other methods. The two physical methods, steam vapor and vacuuming, have no statistically significant efficacy in inactivating dust mite allergens (p = 0.084), but have higher efficacy when compared to the chemical method on dust mite allergens (p = 0.002). There is no statistically significant difference in the efficacy for reducing mold in carpet (p > 0.05) for both physical and chemical methods. The steam-vapor treatment effectively killed dust mites and denatured dust mite allergen in the laboratory environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kee-Hean Ong
- a Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice , St. Louis , Missouri
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Indoor environment and children's health: recent developments in chemical, biological, physical and social aspects. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2011; 215:1-18. [PMID: 21889403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2011.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2011] [Revised: 07/22/2011] [Accepted: 07/25/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Much research is being carried out into indoor exposure to harmful agents. This review focused on the impact on children's health, taking a broad approach to the indoor environment and including chemical, microbial, physical and social aspects. Papers published from 2006 onwards were reviewed, with regards to scientific context. Most of publications dealt with chemical exposure. Apart from the ongoing issue of combustion by-products, most of these papers concerned semi volatile organic compounds (such as phthalates). These may be associated with neurotoxic, reprotoxic or respiratory effects and may, therefore, be of particular interest so far as children are concerned. In a lesser extent, volatile organic compounds (such as aldehydes) that have mainly respiratory effects are still studied. Assessing exposure to metals is still of concern, with increasing interest in bioaccessibility. Most of the papers on microbial exposure focused on respiratory tract infections, especially asthma linked to allergens and bio-aerosols. Physical exposure includes noise and electromagnetic fields, and articles dealt with the auditory and non auditory effects of noise. Articles on radiofrequency electromagnetic fields mainly concerned questions about non-thermal effects and papers on extremely low-frequency magnetic fields focused on the characterization of exposure. The impact of the indoor environment on children's health cannot be assessed merely by considering the effect of these different types of exposure: this review highlights new findings and also discusses the interactions between agents in indoor environments and also with social aspects.
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Nguyen T, Lurie M, Gomez M, Reddy A, Pandya K, Medvesky M. The National Asthma Survey--New York State: association of the home environment with current asthma status. Public Health Rep 2010; 125:877-87. [PMID: 21121233 PMCID: PMC2966669 DOI: 10.1177/003335491012500615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The National Asthma Survey--New York State (NYS), a telephone survey of NYS residents, was conducted in 2002-2003 to further understand the burden of asthma among adults and children and to identify health, socioeconomic, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with asthma. METHODS A total of 1,412 households with at least one member with current asthma and 2,290 control households answered questions about their home environment (e.g., presence of asthma triggers and practices that promote or reduce common asthma triggers). RESULTS; For children younger than 18 years of age, we found statistically significant positive associations between current asthma and the presence of mold (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3, 3.3), air cleaners (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.1, 2.1), dehumidifiers (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.4, 2.7), and humidifiers (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.1, 2.3). For adults, there were statistically significant positive associations with the presence of mold (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.8, 3.4), air cleaners (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.7, 2.8), and humidifiers (AOR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.1, 1.8). There were no statistically significant associations with the presence of cockroaches, pets, or tobacco smoke, while use of a wood-burning stove or fireplace was significantly more prevalent in control homes. CONCLUSIONS Asthma guidelines emphasize the importance of reducing triggers in the home as part of a multifaceted approach to asthma control. Despite these guidelines, many asthma triggers (specifically, mold) were as prevalent or more so in the homes of New Yorkers with asthma as compared with control households. Public health interventions in NYS should focus on educating households about potential asthma triggers and their sources and teach methods to prevent, reduce, or eliminate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trang Nguyen
- New York State Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Office of Public Health Practice, Public Health Information Group, Empire State Plaza, Room 2565, Albany, NY 12237, USA.
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Dales R, Ruest K, Guay M, Marro L, David Miller J. Residential fungal growth and incidence of acute respiratory illness during the first two years of life. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2010; 110:692-698. [PMID: 20655516 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2010.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2009] [Revised: 07/06/2010] [Accepted: 07/12/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whether or not indoor mold growth causes acute childhood respiratory illness is controversial. OBJECTIVE To determine the influence of indoor fungus on the incidence of acute respiratory illness episodes during the first two years of life. METHODS Fungal indicators were measured in homes of children followed by daily symptom diaries and twice monthly telephone contact up to two years. PARTICIPANTS 357 children born in Prince Edward Island, Canada. RESULTS Generally, fungal contamination was not excessive with a geometric mean mold surface area (MSA) of 1012cm(2) (geometric standard deviation (GSD) 24.2). The annual mean illness episodes per child were 6.85 (Standard Deviation (SD) 2.80). The incidence of respiratory illness episodes was not significantly related to any of the mold indicators: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) derived F-statistic (p values) was 0.14 (0.7090) for mold surface area. CONCLUSIONS In homes not selected by degree of fungal contamination, fungal burden was generally not excessive and was not found to be a risk factor for acute respiratory illness episodes during the first two years of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Dales
- Medical Epidemiologist, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
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15
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Loo CJ, Foty RG, Wheeler AJ, Miller JD, Evans G, Stieb DM, Dell SD. Do questions reflecting indoor air pollutant exposure from a questionnaire predict direct measure of exposure in owner-occupied houses? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2010; 7:3270-97. [PMID: 20948960 PMCID: PMC2954581 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph7083270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2010] [Revised: 08/14/2010] [Accepted: 08/18/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Home characteristic questions are used in epidemiological studies and clinical settings to assess potentially harmful exposures in the home. The objective of this study was to determine whether questionnaire-reported home characteristics can predict directly measured pollutants. Sixty home inspections were conducted on a subsample of the 2006 population-based Toronto Child Health Evaluation Questionnaire. Indoor/outdoor air and settled dust samples were analyzed. Mean Fel d 1 was higher (p < 0.0001) in homes with a cat (450.58 μg/g) versus without (22.28 μg/g). Mean indoor NO(2) was higher (p = 0.003) in homes with gas stoves (14.98 ppb) versus without (8.31 ppb). Self-reported musty odours predicted higher glucan levels (10554.37 μg/g versus 6308.58 μg/g, p = 0.0077). Der f 1 was predicted by the home's age, but not by reports of carpets, and was higher in homes with mean relative humidity > 50% (61.30 μg/g, versus 6.24 μg/g, p = 0.002). Self-reported presence of a cat, a gas stove, musty odours, mice, and the home's age and indoor relative humidity over 50% predicted measured indoor levels of cat allergens, NO(2), fungal glucan, mouse allergens and dust mite allergens, respectively. These results are helpful for understanding the significance of indoor exposures ascertained by self-reporting in large epidemiological studies and also in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- C.K. Jennifer Loo
- University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada; E-Mail: (C.K.J.L.)
| | - Richard G. Foty
- The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada; E-Mail: (R.G.F.)
| | - Amanda J. Wheeler
- Health Canada, 269 Laurier Ave West, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada; E-Mails: (A.J.W.); (D.M.S.)
| | - J. David Miller
- Chemistry Department, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada; E-Mail: (J.D.M.)
| | - Greg Evans
- University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2E5, Canada; E-Mail: (G.E.)
| | - David M. Stieb
- Health Canada, 269 Laurier Ave West, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada; E-Mails: (A.J.W.); (D.M.S.)
| | - Sharon D. Dell
- The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada; E-Mail: (R.G.F.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +1-416-813-6248; Fax: +1-416-813-6246
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16
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Ghio AJ. Mechanism of asthmatic exacerbation by ambient air pollution particles. Expert Rev Respir Med 2010; 2:109-18. [PMID: 20477227 DOI: 10.1586/17476348.2.1.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In the previous two to three decades, the prevalence of asthma has risen in numerous countries of the world. Correlating with this elevated prevalence of asthma, societies have observed increased air pollution from specific sources. Studies have implicated certain pollutants in asthmatic exacerbation. Particulate matter (PM) is the pollutant most frequently identified with worsening of this airway disease. PM is a temporally and spatially shifting suspension of solids and liquids originating from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Exposures to elevated levels of PM have been associated with asthmatic exacerbations by employing a diverse array of end points, including respiratory symptoms, use of medication, medical visits, emergency room visits, hospital admissions and pulmonary function decrements. Pertinent to worsening of asthma by ambient air PM, there are other particle-associated exposures that similarly precipitate asthmatic exacerbations. These include traffic-associated pollutants, diesel exhaust, emissions from gas and wood stoves, burning of biomass and environmental tobacco smoke. It is widely accepted that the biological effects exerted by all particle exposures result from oxidative stress. This stimulates cell signaling, transcription factor activation and mediator release in the respiratory tract, culminating in inflammation. Other postulated mechanisms for asthmatic exacerbation following PM exposure include an impact on the incidence of infections and adjuvant effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Ghio
- Human Studies Division, NHEERL, USEPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
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Subbarao P, Becker A, Brook JR, Daley D, Mandhane PJ, Miller GE, Turvey SE, Sears MR. Epidemiology of asthma: risk factors for development. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2010; 5:77-95. [PMID: 20476901 DOI: 10.1586/1744666x.5.1.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
This comprehensive review of the recent literature was undertaken to determine the current state of knowledge of the risk factors involved in the development of asthma in order to focus investigations in a proposed new longitudinal birth cohort study. The origins of asthma appear to lie in the prenatal and early postnatal period, and renewed investigations in this period with long-term close follow-up and objective phenotypic characterization will help to unravel the role of the multiple putative environmental factors in the development of asthma. It is only after understanding these effects that one can hope to design rational prevention studies for asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padmaja Subbarao
- Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Kozyrskyj AL, Kendall GE, Jacoby P, Sly PD, Zubrick SR. Association between socioeconomic status and the development of asthma: analyses of income trajectories. Am J Public Health 2010; 100:540-6. [PMID: 19696386 PMCID: PMC2820073 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2008.150771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2009] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Using data on 2868 children born in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study, we examined the association between changes in family socioeconomic status and childhood asthma. METHODS We determined the likelihood (odds ratio) of a child having asthma at ages 6 and 14 years for 4 family-income trajectories (chronic low, increasing, decreasing, and never low) over the child's lifetime. The trajectories were created from longitudinal latent-class models. RESULTS We found a 2-fold increased risk of asthma at age 14 years among children who had lived in a low-income family since birth, especially for girls. Asthma was less likely to occur in children born to single parents; income rose over time in many of these families. Compared with children in chronic low-income families, children in households with increasing incomes had a 60% lower risk of asthma. Single-point measures of low income were not found to be associated with asthma. CONCLUSIONS Chronic exposure to a low-income environment from birth was associated with the development of persistent asthma. There was also a protective effect against asthma among those children whose families had moved out of poverty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita L Kozyrskyj
- Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth,Western, Australia.
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19
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Wilson J, Dixon SL, Breysse P, Jacobs D, Adamkiewicz G, Chew GL, Dearborn D, Krieger J, Sandel M, Spanier A. Housing and allergens: a pooled analysis of nine US studies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2010; 110:189-198. [PMID: 19939359 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2009.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2009] [Revised: 10/14/2009] [Accepted: 10/20/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Housing conditions can contribute to allergen exposures that are linked to asthma, but little is known about which of those conditions are most likely to predict high levels of allergens in settled house dust. METHODS We pooled allergen, housing condition, occupant behavior, demographic, and other data from nine asthma studies (n=950 homes in 6 US cities). Dust mite (Der f 1 or Der p 1), cockroach (Bla g 1 or Bla g 2), mouse (Mus m 1), cat (Fel d 1) and dog (Can f 1) allergens were measured in settled dust from kitchens or bedrooms, and concentrations were categorized according to previously published asthma symptom thresholds. We calculated odds ratios (OR) using logistic regression to identify those housing conditions and occupant behaviors that were associated with clinically significant allergen levels, after adjusting for numerous confounding variables. RESULTS The adjusted results show that high cockroach allergen was associated with cracks or holes in walls (OR=2.1), high dust mite allergen was associated with mold odor (OR=2.5), housing built before 1951 (OR=2.1), and single-family home with slab on grade (OR=1.9); and mouse allergen was associated with rodent control or signs of rodents (OR=3.62) and inversely associated with presence of a cat (OR=0.20). Water leaks and below average housekeeping had unadjusted high odds ratios for high cockroach allergen. CONCLUSION We have identified a number of housing conditions that are consistently associated with increased allergen dust concentrations. This study indicates that screening for housing-based asthma triggers should include presence of cats, dogs, cockroaches, or rodents; water leaks; mold or mold odor; holes or cracks in walls; and below average housekeeping. Single family houses that have basements or crawl spaces or are built before 1951 are also important predictors for increased allergens in housing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Wilson
- National Center for Healthy Housing, 10320 Little Patuxent Pkway, Suite 500, Columbia, MD 21044, USA
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Baudisch C, Assadian O, Kramer A. Concentration of the genera Aspergillus, Eurotium and Penicillium in 63-microm house dust fraction as a method to predict hidden moisture damage in homes. BMC Public Health 2009; 9:247. [PMID: 19615082 PMCID: PMC2724515 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2008] [Accepted: 07/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quantitative measurements of mould enrichment of indoor air or house dust might be suitable surrogates to evaluate present but hidden moisture damage. Our intent was to develop a house-dust monitoring method to detect hidden moisture damage excluding the influence of outdoor air, accumulated old dust, and dust swirled up from room surfaces. METHODS Based on standardized measurement of mould spores in the 63-microm fraction of house dust yielded by carpets, the background concentrations were determined and compared to simultaneously obtained colony numbers and total spore numbers of the indoor air in 80 non-mouldy living areas during summer and winter periods. Additionally, sampling with a vacuum-cleaner or manual sieve was compared to sampling with a filter holder or sieving machine, and the evaluative power of an established two-step assessment model (lower and upper limits) was compared to that of a one-step model (one limit) in order to derive concentration limits for mould load in house dust. RESULTS Comparison with existing evaluation procedures proved the developed method to be the most reliable means of evaluating hidden moisture damage, yielding the lowest false-positive results (specificity 98.7%). Background measurements and measurements in 14 mouldy rooms show that even by evaluating just the indicator genera in summer and winter, a relatively certain assessment of mould infestation is possible. CONCLUSION A one-step evaluation is finally possible for house dust. The house-dust evaluation method is based on analysis of the indicator genera Aspergillus, Eurotium and Penicillium spp., which depend on the total fungal count. Inclusion of further moisture indicators currently appears questionable, because of outdoor air influence and the paucity of measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Baudisch
- State Health and Social Office of Mecklenburg-Pomerania, Branch Office Schwerin, Germany.
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Thorne PS, Cohn RD, Mav D, Arbes SJ, Zeldin DC. Predictors of endotoxin levels in U.S. housing. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2009; 117:763-71. [PMID: 19479019 PMCID: PMC2685839 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.11759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2008] [Accepted: 10/14/2008] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship of domestic endotoxin exposure to allergy and asthma has been widely investigated. However, few studies have evaluated predictors of household endotoxin, and none have done so for multiple locations within homes and on a national scale. OBJECTIVES We assayed 2,552 house dust samples in a nationwide study to understand the predictors of household endotoxin in bedroom floors, family room floors, beds, kitchen floors, and family room sofas. METHODS Reservoir house dust from five locations within homes was assayed for endotoxin and demographic and housing information was assessed through questionnaire and onsite evaluation of 2,456 residents of 831 homes selected to represent national demographics. We performed repeated-measures analysis of variance (rANOVA) for 37 candidate variables to identify independent predictors of endotoxin. Meteorologic data were obtained for each primary sampling unit and tested as predictors of indoor endotoxin to determine if wetter or warmer microclimates were associated with higher endotoxin levels. RESULTS Weighted geometric mean endotoxin concentration ranged from 18.7 to 80.5 endotoxin units (EU)/mg for the five sampling locations, and endotoxin load ranged from 4,160 to 19,500 EU/m(2). Bivariate analyses and rANOVA demonstrated that major predictors of endotoxin concentration were sampling location in the home, census division, educational attainment, presence of children, current dog ownership, resident-described problems with cockroaches, food debris, cockroach stains, and evidence of smoking observed by field staff. Low household income entered the model if educational attainment was removed. CONCLUSION Increased endotoxin in household reservoir dust is principally associated with poverty, people, pets, household cleanliness, and geography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Thorne
- Environmental Health Sciences Research Center, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-5000, USA.
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Adgate JL, Ramachandran G, Cho SJ, Ryan AD, Grengs J. Allergen levels in inner city homes: baseline concentrations and evaluation of intervention effectiveness. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2008; 18:430-440. [PMID: 18059423 DOI: 10.1038/sj.jes.7500638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2007] [Accepted: 10/02/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Allergens in house dust are risk factors for asthma causation and exacerbation, and asthma interventions often focus on exposure reduction using methods that may not be sustainable over time in low-income communities. A randomized controlled trial with up to six home visits was used to evaluate the effectiveness of two interventions focused on reducing dust loading and allergen concentrations in 47 low-income inner-city households in Minneapolis, MN. The interventions, which included education and relatively inexpensive cleaning procedures, were developed using a community-based participatory consultation process with focus groups held in English, Somali, and Spanish to incorporate community feedback from participants into protocols and study design decisions. Change in levels of cat, cockroach, dust mite, and culturable fungi as well as overall dust loading were evaluated by measuring the difference in concentrations before and after the cleaning intervention, and mixed models were used to assess the effect of education and cleaning on baseline allergen levels during the final three home visits. The cleaning intervention significantly lowered dust loading in all households and culturable fungi levels in single family homes, reduced cat allergen concentrations in homes with cats, but had no significant effect on cockroach allergen levels. The cleaning intervention also modestly decreased the frequency of observed allergen concentrations above suggested health benchmarks for cat, cockroach, and fungi. The cleaning and education interventions had similar effects on baseline allergen levels measured during subsequent home visits; both interventions significantly reduced baseline levels of cat and fungal allergens observed in pre-cleaning samples, but had no significant effect on cockroach allergen levels. Overall, the cleaning intervention modestly reduced potential exposure to risk factors associated with asthma mortality and morbidity in a way that can be implemented by most homeowners or renters, independent of education, income, or the ability to speak English.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L Adgate
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnessota, USA.
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Salo PM, Arbes SJ, Crockett PW, Thorne PS, Cohn RD, Zeldin DC. Exposure to multiple indoor allergens in US homes and its relationship to asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008; 121:678-684.e2. [PMID: 18255132 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.12.1164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2007] [Revised: 12/17/2007] [Accepted: 12/21/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing was the first population-based study to measure indoor allergen levels in US homes. OBJECTIVE We characterized the overall burden to multiple allergens and examined whether increased allergen levels were associated with occupants' asthma status. METHODS This cross-sectional study surveyed a nationally representative sample of 831 housing units in 75 different locations throughout the United States. Information was collected by means of questionnaire and environmental assessment. Allergen concentrations in dust samples were assessed by using immunoassays. The following cutoff points were used to define increased allergen levels: 10 microg/g for Der p 1, Der f 1, and Can f 1; 8 microg/g for Fel d 1; 8 U/g for Bla g 1; 1.6 microg/g for mouse urinary protein; and 7 microg/g for Alternaria alternata antigens. Allergen burden was considered high when 4 or more allergens exceeded increased levels in any of the sampling locations. RESULTS Exposure to multiple allergens was common in US homes. Of the surveyed homes, 51.5% had at least 6 detectable allergens and 45.8% had at least 3 allergens exceeding increased levels. Race, income, housing type, absence of children, and presence of smokers, pets, cockroaches, rodents, and mold/moisture-related problems were independent predictors of high allergen burden. Among atopic subjects, high allergen burden increased the odds of having asthma symptoms (odds ratio, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.04-3.15). CONCLUSION Increased allergen levels in the home are associated with asthma symptoms in allergic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Päivi M Salo
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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