Determinants of endotoxin levels in living environments of farmers' children and their peers from rural areas

Waser, Marco; Schierl, Rudolf; Mutius, Erika von; Maisch, Soyoun; Carr, David; Riedler, Josef; Eder, Waltraud; Schreuer, Mynda; Nowak, Dennis; Braun-Fahrländer, C.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2004.01873.x

Cited by 95 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Levels of endotoxins found in farm homes were approximately three times higher than those found in nonfarm homes. Similar differences for the floor dust sampling between farm and nonfarm homes have been reported previously (6,16,23).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Evaluation of a Low-Cost Electrostatic Dust Fall Collector for Indoor Air Endotoxin Exposure Assessment

Noss

Wouters

Visser

et al. 2008

Appl Environ Microbiol

169

182

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Exposure to endotoxin in home environments has become a key issue in asthma and allergy research. Most studies have analyzed floor or mattress dust endotoxin, but its validity as a proxy for airborne exposure is unknown, while active airborne dust sampling is not feasible in large-scale population studies because of logistic and financial limitations. We therefore developed and evaluated a simple passive airborne dust collection method for airborne endotoxin exposure assessment. We explored an electrostatic dust fall collector (EDC), consisting of a 42-by 29.6-cm-sized folder with four electrostatic cloths exposed to the air. The EDC was tested during two 14-day periods in seven nonfarm and nine farm homes and in farm stables. In parallel, active airborne dust sampling was performed with Harvard impactors and floor dust collected by vacuuming, using nylon sampling socks. The endotoxin levels could be measured in all EDC cloth extracts. The levels (in EU/m 2 ) between EDCs used simultaneously or in different sampling periods in the same home correlated strongly (r > 0.8). EDC endotoxin also correlated moderately to strongly (r ‫؍‬ 0.6 to 0.8) with the endotoxin measured by active airborne dust sampling and living room floor dust sampling and-in farm homes-with the endotoxin captured by the EDC in stables. In contrast, endotoxin levels measured by floor dust sampling showed only a poor correlation with the levels measured by active airborne dust sampling. We therefore conclude that measuring endotoxin levels with the EDC is a valid measure of average airborne endotoxin exposure, while reproducibility over time is at least equivalent to that of reservoir dust analyses.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Evaluation of a Low-Cost Electrostatic Dust Fall Collector for Indoor Air Endotoxin Exposure Assessment

Noss

Wouters

Visser

et al. 2008

Appl Environ Microbiol

169

182

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“…Higher indoor concentrations were found in farming environments compared with those assessed in homes of the surrounded rural areas [146]. Exposure to animals, especially farm animals, has been suggested to explain such differences [147]. However, moulds have also been suggested as potential candidates [93,145].…”

Section: In Childrenmentioning

confidence: 88%

Respiratory health and indoor air pollutants based on quantitative exposure assessments

et al. 2012

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We reviewed the main epidemiological studies that evaluate the respiratory effects of indoor air pollutants quantitatively in industrialised countries. Consistent results support short-term (aggravation) and, although more rarely, long-term (prevalence augmentation) effects on asthma, chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in indoor settings with poor air quality. Environmental tobacco smoke is one of the most important risks for respiratory symptoms and diseases worldwide. The evidence is also reliable for indoor nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, which have been associated with asthma, bronchitis and COPD. Whereas formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds seem to be the main pollutants in indoor settings, relevant papers on their respiratory effects are still scarce, and limited to asthma and bronchitis. Moulds have been associated with an increased risk of asthma and COPD. Contradictory results have been found between endotoxins and asthma. The role of phthalates, persistent organic pollutants and flame retardants in respiratory diseases remains to be established. Results from rural areas of industrialised countries indicate that exposure to some indoor bio-contaminants might be protective in early life, while it is associated with adverse respiratory adverse effects in adulthood. Studies focusing on indoor air pollutants should be developed to better understand their involvement in the inception and aggravation of respiratory diseases.

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“…In the Allergy and Endotoxin Study, endotoxin was measured in dust from the living room floors and children's mattresses of 319 farm families and 493 nonfarm families. Pet ownership and regularity of floor cleaning were associated with high endotoxin levels in nonfarm environments, whereas farm activities, study area, time since last cleaning, mattress type, and presence of young children predicted high endotoxin in farm settings (39). Gram-negative bacteria can be transported by pets and humans in the gut and on the skin, which may explain the presence of children, dogs, or cats as potential contributors to increased endotoxin levels in house dust.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endotoxin Exposure: Predictors and Prevalence of Associated Asthma Outcomes in the United States

Thorne

Mendy

Metwali

et al. 2015

Am J Respir Crit Care Med

106

122

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Rationale: Inhaled endotoxin induces airway inflammation and is an established risk factor for asthma. The -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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Determinants of endotoxin levels in living environments of farmers' children and their peers from rural areas

Cited by 95 publications

References 26 publications

Evaluation of a Low-Cost Electrostatic Dust Fall Collector for Indoor Air Endotoxin Exposure Assessment

Evaluation of a Low-Cost Electrostatic Dust Fall Collector for Indoor Air Endotoxin Exposure Assessment

Respiratory health and indoor air pollutants based on quantitative exposure assessments

Endotoxin Exposure: Predictors and Prevalence of Associated Asthma Outcomes in the United States

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