Evaporative coolers are not associated with dust mite or mold sensitization in a large pediatric cohort

Izadi, Neema; Brar, K. S.; Lanser, Bruce J.

doi:10.1016/j.anai.2018.02.022

Cited by 4 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…Interestingly, they did report significantly lower prevalence of allergic rhinitis among children living in homes with evaporative coolers. 71 Conversely, other studies show that children living in homes with evaporative coolers are more likely to test positive for sensitization to mold and HDM allergens, 23 and are more likely to experience lower respiratory tract illness in infancy. 72 Evaporative coolers are often incentivized for energy savings in dry climates, but there is little data on potential health risks or benefits of their use, warranting a longitudinal health study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Associations between evaporative cooling and dust‐mite allergens, endotoxins, and β‐(1 → 3)‐d‐glucans in house dust: A study of low‐income homes

et al. 2019

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Recent work suggests that evaporative coolers increase the level and diversity of bioaerosols, but this association remains understudied in low‐income homes. We conducted a cross‐sectional study of metropolitan, low‐income homes in Utah with evaporative coolers (n = 20) and central air conditioners (n = 28). Dust samples (N = 147) were collected from four locations in each home and analyzed for dust‐mite allergens Der p1 and Der f1, endotoxins, and β‐(1 → 3)‐d‐glucans. In all sample locations combined, Der p1 or Der f1 was significantly higher in evaporative cooler versus central air conditioning homes (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.05‐4.98). Endotoxin concentration was significantly higher in evaporative cooler versus central air conditioning homes in furniture (geometric mean (GM) = 8.05 vs 2.85 EU/mg, P < .01) and all samples combined (GM = 3.60 vs 1.29 EU/mg, P = .03). β‐(1 → 3)‐d‐glucan concentration and surface loads were significantly higher in evaporative cooler versus central air conditioning homes in all four sample locations and all samples combined (P < .01). Our study suggests that low‐income, evaporative cooled homes have higher levels of immunologically important bioaerosols than central air‐conditioned homes in dry climates, warranting studies on health implications and other exposed populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Associations between evaporative cooling and dust‐mite allergens, endotoxins, and β‐(1 → 3)‐d‐glucans in house dust: A study of low‐income homes

et al. 2019

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“…A much larger, more recent pediatric cohort study by Izadi et al (2018), however, found no association between EC use and dust mite allergen or mold sensitivity 84 . In this study, the authors conducted a retrospective review of data from patients <21 years of age seen at National Jewish Health hospital (Colorado, USA) from 2008 to 2017.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…However, epidemiological studies on health effects from ECs are limited. We found only three in this review, two of which used retrospective study designs, 83,84 and thus cannot be used to determine the incidence of health outcomes or causality of diseases associated with ECs. 180 Longitudinal, prospective studies, such as the one conducted by Aldous et al (1996), 82 may be necessary to fully understand the health implications of using ECs.…”

Section: Con Clus Ionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The authors concluded that ECs do not increase atopic children's sensitization to house dust mites or mold in Colorado's dry climate.The literature is likewise scant regarding evidence for positive health outcomes associated with EC use. The large cohort study byIzadi et al (2018), found the prevalence of allergic rhinitis was significantly lower among patients living in homes with ECs (p = 0.0215 and p = 0.0257 for the dust mite and mold cohorts, respectively).…”

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confidence: 98%

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Bioaerosol and microbial exposures from residential evaporative coolers and their potential health outcomes: A review

2022

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Evaporative cooling is one of the oldest and most energy efficient forms of air conditioning used in hot, dry climates. Historically, there are several examples of passive evaporative cooling methods, which relied on natural airflow. In the Southwest U.S., Native Americans splashed water on the tops of arbors in hot weather, which may have cooled the shaded area under the arbor by as much as 10 degrees. 1 Similar approaches were used by Western U.S. settlers who covered wall openings with damp burlap. 2,3 Other historic examples include the practice in India of hanging "tatties", wetted screens made from the roots of khus khus (cuscus) grass, over windward doorways and window openings during hot summer months, 3,4 and the introduction of water into wind towers in traditional Middle Eastern architecture. 5,6 Early mechanical methods incorporated the use of fans to improve airflow across wetted media. As early as 1905, British soldiers' barracks in India were air conditioned by arranging tatties over fans to cool supply air coming into the building. 7 In the early 1930s in the Southwest U.S., homemade evaporative coolers were fashioned by covering a wooden box with burlap or other cloth. An electric fan

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“…A study reported bacterial growth inside the humidifier [ 69 ], while another reported the problem of bacterial or fungal growth caused by the moisture on the inner wall, on continuous use of the humidifier [ 70 ]. However, another large-scale cohort study among young children found no association between the use of humidifier and either house mites or fungi [ 71 ]. For the correlation found in this study between the use of humidifier and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, the causality cannot be precisely defined based solely on the results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allergic rhinitis is associated with atmospheric SO2: Follow-up study of children from elementary schools in Ulsan, Korea

Kim

Lee

et al. 2021

PLoS ONE

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Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the association of allergic rhinitis with air pollutant concentrations using the follow-up data of elementary school children in Ulsan, Korea. Methods All students of four elementary schools in Ulsan, South Korea were surveyed at two-year intervals. The survey used data collected five times, over a nine-year period from June 2009 to April 2018. The questionnaire used in the survey was a modified version of the ISAAC (International society of asthma and allergy of children) questionnaire. A skin prick test (SPT) was performed with 24 standard antigens. To estimate the levels of exposure to outdoor air pollution, the concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter 10 μm or less in diameter (PM10) were used. As a dependent variable, a history of allergic rhinitis diagnosed by a doctor during the last 1-year was considered. Logistic regression analysis was used to select variables suitable for the statistical model. The selected variables were then used to assess their association with the dependent variable using the generalized estimation equation. Results Among environmental factors, SO2 was associated with a high risk and PM10 was associated with a low risk of allergic rhinitis. The risk of allergic rhinitis from living in a house built within the last year was high, and the risk from living in a multi-family house or apartment was higher than that from living in a segregated house. History of allergic diseases in the family was a high-risk factor for allergic rhinitis. There was a relationship between a history of bronchiolitis at less than 2 years of age and a high risk of allergic rhinitis. Boys were at a higher risk than girls. Conclusion From the follow-up data of elementary school students in Ulsan, Korea, the concentration of SO2, which is an indicator of the degree of industrialization, was related to the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Among all the risk factors, history of allergic disease in the parents was the most important factor, and the study reconfirmed the results of the previous studies.

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Evaporative coolers are not associated with dust mite or mold sensitization in a large pediatric cohort

Cited by 4 publications

References 10 publications

Associations between evaporative cooling and dust‐mite allergens, endotoxins, and β‐(1 → 3)‐d‐glucans in house dust: A study of low‐income homes

Associations between evaporative cooling and dust‐mite allergens, endotoxins, and β‐(1 → 3)‐d‐glucans in house dust: A study of low‐income homes

Bioaerosol and microbial exposures from residential evaporative coolers and their potential health outcomes: A review

Allergic rhinitis is associated with atmospheric SO2: Follow-up study of children from elementary schools in Ulsan, Korea

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