Indoor microbial exposure increases complement component C3a and -reactive protein concentrations in serum.

Indoor exposure to microbial growth, caused by moisture damage, has been an established health risk for several decades. It is likely that a damp indoor environment contains biological pollutants that trigger both the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system. In this study, we investigated the association between moisture damage related microbial exposure and serum C3a, C5a and CRP concentrations in Finnish adults.

The prevalence and risk factors of hoarseness among pupils in elementary schools in the South of Finland.

Hoarseness and voice problems are one of the chronic conditions experienced by children. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hoarseness, possible risk factors and effects of the remediation of school buildings to the prevalence of hoarseness among school children. The material was gathered from all the schools in a large city in the south of Finland and the collection method used was an e-mail survey sent to the parents of the pupils and a simultaneous survey sent to the personnel in the schools.

Occupational Risk Factors for Hoarseness Among Police Officers in Finland.

Purpose: Police officers have many work-related risks. In Finland, hoarseness and other respiratory symptoms and related risk factors have not been investigated on a national level. In many of the work tasks carried out by the police, an excellent physical and mental condition is essential.

The prevalence of hoarseness among health care professionals: time trends and effect of remediation in working conditions in 2007-2018.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate time trends in the prevalence of hoarseness among health care professionals in primary health care units (PHC) and in hospitals from 2007 to 2018. Moreover, purpose was to discover potential indoor environmental quality (IEQ) risk factors as well as to determine the effect of the remediation of the indoor air problems on the prevalence of hoarseness.

Methods: The health status was collected from all employees in these units/hospitals (N = 1564/1199) with questionnaires and the follow-ups were carried out as an open cohort.

Groundwater radon exposure and risk of lung cancer: A population-based study in Finland.

Naturally occurring radioactive elements can be found in groundwater and exposure to such elements is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. In this study, we aimed to observe the association between exposure to these radioactive elements in groundwater and the risk of lung cancer in selected regions in Finland. This is a population-based study from 1955 to 2019 in Finland.

Hoarseness Among Young Children in Day-Care Centers.

Background: Chronic respiratory symptoms among toddlers are assumed to be due to allergies and common respiratory infections. Because symptoms and respiratory disease in this age group often continue on to school age and later life, it is important to know the possible risk factors for prevention of the chronic hoarseness.

Aim: We aimed to determine the current prevalence of hoarseness and other chronic respiratory symptoms among toddlers and young children.

The interaction between voice disorders and stress for work ability of teachers.

Objective: Less attention has been paid to the interaction between voice disorders, stress, and indoor environmental quality for work ability in teachers. Therefore, our aim was to study whether lower work ability associated more strongly when the variables of voice disorders and stress at work were combined as opposed to evaluating these two factors separately.

Methods: We conducted a questionnaire study including validated self-assessment of work ability and a technical assessment of school buildings utilizing a sample of 1198 and a subsample ( = 538) of Finnish teachers.

Transferring from moisture damaged school building to clean facilities - The avoidance of mold exposure induces a decline in symptoms and improvement in lung function among personnel.

Working in a moisture-damaged building can cause different symptoms and effects on lung functions. Moving to a clean environment, it is believed to reduce symptoms and alleviate potential adverse health effects. This case study monitors the health effects of personnel in one school building before and after all school activities were transferred from a moisture-damaged school building to clean premises.

Prevalence of Hoarseness in Primary Health Care and Hospitals-Associations With Different Work Tasks and Environmental Factors Among Nurses.

Objectives: The voice is one of the most essential tools necessary for nurses achieve high care satisfaction and safety. Research on hoarseness has mainly focused on professional speakers, like teachers. The aim of this study was to determine the current prevalence of hoarseness among six subgroups of nurses (registered nurses, primary care nurses, pediatric nurses, laboratory nurses, dental nurses, and midwives) and also to identify potential environmental risk factors in their working environment.

The Association Between Work-related Stress, Indoor Air Quality and Voice Problems Among Teachers - Is There a Trend?

Introduction: Hoarseness and other voice problems are common in occupations where the person has to speak, sing or shout in a work environment containing dust, noise, gaseous or particulate irritants. In recent years, stress has often been associated with voice problems.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine trends over a period of time of the prevalence of voice problems and reported stress in Finnish school buildings.

Asthma, allergies and respiratory symptoms in different activity groups of swimmers exercising in swimming halls.

Background: Respiratory symptoms are common in competitive swimmers. However, among these and in swimmers at other activity levels the swimming distance, the total spent time in swimming halls and their medical background varies. Our objectives were, first, to assess their medical histories and the associations with respiratory symptoms among swimmers in different activity groups and then second, to study the pulmonary function findings and related medications in competitive swimmers who exercise in swimming hall environments the most.

Self-reported voice disorders of teachers and indoor air quality in schools: a cross-sectional study in Finland.

Objective: We aimed to study the association between self-reported voice disorders among teachers and indoor air quality in school buildings.

Methods: We performed a questionnaire study of 538 Finnish teachers working in 67 school buildings utilizing both perceived and technical evaluations; the agreement between these two assessments was also studied. The technical assessment was provided by technical experts.

Hoarseness among nurses.

While many occupations are at risk for vocal health issues much of the current research has focused on teachers. The prevalence of hoarseness among nurses has not received much attention. The aim of this study was to determine the current prevalence of hoarseness among nurses and also to identify potential environmental risk factors from their working environment.

Indoor-related microbe damage induces complement system activation in building users.

In this comparative study, serum complement system antimicrobial activity was measured from 159 serum samples, taken from individuals from microbe-damaged (70 samples) and from reference buildings (89 samples). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using a probe-based bacterial -lux bioluminescence system and comparison was made at a group level between the experimental and reference group. The complement activity was higher in users of microbe-damaged buildings compared with the reference group and the significant ( < 0.

Work ability of teachers associated with voice disorders, stress, and the indoor environment: A questionnaire study in Finland.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-reported work ability is associated with voice disorders, stress at work, and the quality of the perceived indoor environment.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: We conducted a questionnaire study of 1 198 Finnish teachers utilizing the Work Ability Score.

Investigating the short- and long-term effects of antibacterial agents using a real-time assay based on bioluminescent -lux.

We have previously established that the -lux assessment is a convenient tool for rapid measurements of the kinetical features of short-term toxicity caused by various factors. In this study, kinetic measurements of seven specifically acting model antibacterials (i.e.

Indoor exposure to Streptomyces albus and Aspergillus versicolor elevates the levels of spore-specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG3 serum antibodies in building users - A new ELISA-based assay for exposure assessment.

Moisture-indicative microbes in buildings are associated with a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild irritation to severe clinical illnesses. These symptoms are caused principally by dried, dormant and dead microbe material like spores, mycelium and microbe metabolites, leading to the activation of the immune system and formation of the antigen-specific immunoglobulins. This activation presumably takes place through the respiratory track and is a normal immune reaction against pathogenic invaders.

Modeling Associations between Principals' Reported Indoor Environmental Quality and Students' Self-Reported Respiratory Health Outcomes Using GLMM and ZIP Models.

Background: The aim of this paper was to examine associations between school building characteristics, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and health responses using questionnaire data from both school principals and students.

Methods: From 334 randomly sampled schools, 4248 sixth grade students from 297 schools participated in a questionnaire. From these schools, 134 principals returned questionnaires concerning 51 IEQ related questions of their school.

The associations of indoor environment and psychosocial factors on the subjective evaluation of Indoor Air Quality among lower secondary school students: a multilevel analysis.

Subjective evaluation of Indoor Air Quality (subjective IAQ) reflects both building-related and psychosocial factors, but their associations have rarely been studied other than on the individual level in occupational settings and their interactions have not been assessed. Therefore, we studied whether schools' observed indoor air problems and psychosocial factors are associated with subjective IAQ and their potential interactions. The analysis was performed with a nationwide sample (N = 195 schools/26946 students) using multilevel modeling.

Indoor Air Problems and Hoarseness in Children.

Objectives: A well-functioning voice is becoming increasingly important because voice-demanding professions are increasing. The largest proportion of voice disorders is caused by factors in the environment. Moisture damage is common and can initiate microbial growth and/or diffusion of chemicals from building materials.

Factors affecting sick leave prescribing in occupational health care: a survey based on hypothetical patient cases.

Background: Several studies have shown considerable differences in the way that physicians prescribe sick leave. The aim of this study was to examine the sick leave prescribing practices of occupational health care physicians and factors affecting these practices.

Methods: A questionnaire study with 19 hypothetical patient cases was conducted among 356 Finnish occupational health care physicians.

Indoor environmental quality in school buildings, and the health and wellbeing of students.

Poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in classrooms may be a risk for health symptoms and cause absence from school. We conducted a comprehensive study in order to assess the connection between IEQ in Finnish elementary school buildings and the health and academic performance of sixth grade students. The specific aim of the present paper was to study the school- or grade-level prevalence of symptoms in relation to IEQ.

Umbilical artery pH values at birth and risk of asthma at 5 to 6 years of age.

Background: Intrapartum factors may have a role in the development of asthma and allergic diseases among offspring.

Objective: To investigate the association between umbilical arterial pH values at birth and asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema in children.

Methods: We performed a case-control study of 222 asthmatic children and 183 control children aged 5 to 6 years with umbilical artery pH values recorded at birth.

Two Legionnaires' disease cases associated with industrial waste water treatment plants: a case report.

Background: Finnish and Swedish waste water systems used by the forest industry were found to be exceptionally heavily contaminated with legionellae in 2005.

Case Presentation: We report two cases of severe pneumonia in employees working at two separate mills in Finland in 2006. Legionella serological and urinary antigen tests were used to diagnose Legionnaires' disease in the symptomatic employees, who had worked at, or close to, waste water treatment plants.