Alternaria measures in inner-city, low-income housing by immunoassay and culture-based analysis.

Background: Sensitivity to Alternaria allergens has been associated with severe asthma and life-threatening exacerbations, and a high prevalence of Alternaria sensitivity has been reported among inner-city populations. Traditionally, epidemiologic studies have measured indoor Alternaria concentrations by cultural analyses; however, the number of viable spores may not be a good proxy for allergen levels. Furthermore, other genera share epitopes with Alternaria that may contribute to the allergenic effect.

Monitoring microbial populations on wide-body commercial passenger aircraft.

Although exposure to bacteria has been assessed in cabin air previously, minimal numbers of samples have been collected in-flight. The purpose of this research was to comprehensively characterize bacterial concentrations in the aircraft cabin. Twelve randomly selected flights were sampled on Boeing-767 aircraft, each with a flight duration between 4.

Removal of Serratia marcescens aerosols using an electrostatic precipitator.

We characterized the efficacy of an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) air-cleaner in reducing the concentration of Serratia marcescens in an enclosed space. We used an experimental room (4.5 x 3 x 2.

Assessing total fungal concentrations on commercial passenger aircraft using mixed-effects modeling.

The primary objective of this study was to compare airborne fungal concentrations onboard commercial passenger aircraft at various in-flight times with concentrations measured inside and outside airport terminals. A secondary objective was to investigate the use of mixed-effects modeling of repeat measures from multiple sampling intervals and locations. Sequential triplicate culturable and total spore samples were collected on wide-body commercial passenger aircraft (n = 12) in the front and rear of coach class during six sampling intervals: boarding, midclimb, early cruise, midcruise, late cruise, and deplaning.

Evaluating fungal populations by genera/species on wide body commercial passenger aircraft and in airport terminals.

Given the potential health effects of fungi and the amount of time aircrew and passengers spend inside aircraft, it is important to study fungal populations in the aircraft environment. Research objectives included documenting the genera/species of airborne culturable fungal concentrations and total spore concentrations on a twin-aisle wide body commercial passenger aircraft. Twelve flights between 4.

Determinants of allergen concentrations in apartments of asthmatic children living in public housing.

There is growing evidence linking poor housing conditions and respiratory diseases, including asthma. The association between housing conditions and asthma in the inner city has been attributed in part to cockroach and mouse infestation and the resulting allergen exposures. Multiple social and behavioral factors can influence environmental exposures and health conditions, necessitating a thorough examination of such factors.

Air quality measurements for the aerosol research and inhalation epidemiology study.

Measurements of pollutant gases, airborne particulate matter mass and composition, and meteorology have been made at a core site near downtown Atlanta, GA, since August 1998 in support of the Aerosol Research and Inhalation Epidemiology Study (ARIES). This site is one of eight in the Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization network. The measurement objective is to provide a long-term, multivariate dataset suitable for investigating statistical associations of respiratory and cardiovascular disease with airborne particulate matter composition, meteorology, and copollutant gases through epidemiologic modeling.

Fungal levels in the home and allergic rhinitis by 5 years of age.

Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that sensitization to fungi, such as Alternaria, is strongly associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma in children. However, the role of exposure to fungi in the development of childhood allergic rhinitis is poorly understood. In a prospective birth cohort of 405 children of asthmatic/allergic parents from metropolitan Boston, Massachusetts, we examined in-home high fungal concentrations (> 90th percentile) measured once within the first 3 months of life as predictors of doctor-diagnosed allergic rhinitis in the first 5 years of life.

Dustborne Alternaria alternata antigens in US homes: results from the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing.

Background: Alternaria alternata is one of the most common fungi associated with allergic disease. However, Alternaria exposure in indoor environments is not well characterized.

Objective: The primary goals of this study were to examine the prevalence of Alternaria exposure and identify independent predictors of Alternaria antigen concentrations in US homes.

Airborne fungi in the homes of children with asthma in low-income urban communities: The Inner-City Asthma Study.

Background: Despite growing evidence of the importance of exposure to fungi as an environmental risk factor for asthma, few data have been reported on the exposure to airborne fungi of asthmatic children living in US inner cities.

Objective: We sought to examine the spectrum and concentration of fungi in the air inside and outside of the homes of mold-sensitive children with asthma living in US cities. We also analyzed the relationship of the concentration of fungi in indoor air to home characteristics.

Size and UV germicidal irradiation susceptibility of Serratia marcescens when aerosolized from different suspending media.

Experimental systems have been built in laboratories worldwide to investigate the influence of various environmental parameters on the efficacy of UV germicidal irradiation (UVGI) for deactivating airborne microorganisms. It is generally recognized that data from different laboratories might vary significantly due to differences in systems and experimental conditions. In this study we looked at the effect of the composition of the suspending medium on the size and UVGI susceptibility of Serratia marcescens in an experimental system built in our laboratory.

The work environment and workers' health in four large office buildings.

We conducted a 1-year epidemiologic study in Boston, Massachusetts, beginning May 1997, to examine the associations between environmental factors and office workers' health. We recruited 98 subjects (81 females and 17 males) in 21 offices in four office buildings. We conducted environmental sampling every 6 weeks and concurrently administered detailed questionnaires to collect information on work-related symptoms, psychosocial factors, and perceptions of the office environments.

Fungal levels in the home and lower respiratory tract illnesses in the first year of life.

The association between home dampness and lower respiratory symptoms in children has been well documented. Whether fungal exposures contribute to this association is uncertain. In a prospective birth cohort of 499 children of parents with asthma/allergies, we examined in-home fungal concentrations as predictors of lower respiratory illnesses (LRI) (croup, pneumonia, bronchitis, and bronchiolitis) in the first year.

House dust mite allergen in US beds: results from the First National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing.

Background: Although exposure to house dust mite allergen is a major risk factor for allergic sensitization and asthma, nationwide estimates of dust mite allergen levels in US homes have not been reported.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dust mite allergen in beds of US homes and to identify predictors of dust mite allergen concentration.

Methods: Data were obtained from the first National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing, a cross-sectional survey of 831 permanently occupied noninstitutional housing units that permitted resident children.

The relevance of maternal immune responses to inhalant allergens to maternal symptoms, passive transfer to the infant, and development of antibodies in the first 2 years of life.

Background: Asthma and other atopic diseases are strongly hereditary. Although the mother might play a special role, the mechanisms for such an effect are not clear.

Objective: We sought to investigate the influence of maternal immune responses to cat and mite allergens on (1) maternal symptoms, (2) the development of immune responses in the infant, and (3) the development of allergic disease during the first 3 years of life.

An update on pollen and fungal spore aerobiology.

Changes in climate are altering pollen distribution. Predictive modeling can be used to forecast long- and short-term changes in pollen concentrations. Increasing evidence confirms the presence of pollen allergens on small, respirable particles in the air, explaining the occurrence of pollen-season increases in asthma.

Populations and determinants of airborne fungi in large office buildings.

Bioaerosol concentrations in office environments and their roles in causing building-related symptoms have drawn much attention in recent years. Most bioaerosol studies have been cross-sectional. We conducted a longitudinal study to examine the characteristics of airborne fungal populations and correlations with other environmental parameters in office environments.

Dustborne fungi in large office buildings.

Fungi are ubiquitous in our daily environments. However, their effects on office workers' health are of great interest to many environmental health researchers. Dust has been considered an important reservoir of indoor fungi from which aerosolization and exposure could occur.

Effect of sampling time on the culturability of airborne fungi and bacteria sampled by filtration.

Air sampling of bioaerosols by filtration may be preferable for many epidemiological studies because the methods can be used to collect personal samples for a full work-shift. There is some concern, however, that the viability of fungal spores and bacterial cells might be compromised by sampling for as long as a full shift. This study was designed to determine the effect of sampling up to 6 h on the viability (measured by culture) of airborne fungi and bacteria at composting facilities.

The role of indoor allergen sensitization and exposure in causing morbidity in women with asthma.

Longitudinal evidence that indoor allergen exposure causes morbidity in sensitized individuals with asthma is scarce. We evaluated the association of allergen sensitization and home exposure to short- and long-term morbidity in 140 women with asthma and to asthma prevalence in 458 women from metropolitan Boston. Cockroach (Blattella germanica), dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae), and cat (Felis domesticus) allergens in home dust samples, and specific immunoglobulin E antibodies were measured at outset, and doctor-diagnosed asthma and markers of asthma morbidity were ascertained by questionnaire during a 4-year follow-up.

The characterization of upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation in inactivating airborne microorganisms.

In this study, we explored the efficacy of upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) in reducing the concentration of Serratia marcescens and Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) aerosols in enclosed places. We constructed a facility (4.5 m x 3 m x 2.