Monitoring of occupational and environmental aeroallergens – <scp>EAACI</scp> Position Paper

Raulf, Monika; Buters, Jeroen; Chapman, Martin D.; Cecchi, Lorenzo; Blay, F. De; Doekes, Gert; Eduard, Wijnand; Heederik, Dick; Jeebhay, Mohamed F.; Kespohl, S.; Krop, Esmeralda; Moscato, Gianna; Pala, Gianni; Quirce, Santiago; Sander, I.; Schlünssen, Vivi; Sigsgaard, Torben; Walusiak‐Skorupa, Jolanta; Wiszniewska, Marta; Wouters, Inge M.; Annesi-Maesano, I.

doi:10.1111/all.12456

Cited by 68 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 109 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Such a situation may have occurred due to the overgrowth of Crysonilia sitophilia [37] in both the air and surface samples of this latter setting, simultaneously hindering other species that we were not able to identify. High fungal load settings are occupational contexts with high dust contamination [18,19,38,39] and this environmental parameter can act as a fungi carrier and disseminating agent [40]. Previous research work has presented data that relates high dust contamination to high fungi aerossolization [41,42], corroborating this association.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Analysis of surfaces for characterization of fungal burden – Does it matter?

Viegas¹,

Faria²,

Meneses³

et al. 2016

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: Mycological contamination of occupational environments can be a result of fungal spores' dispersion in the air and on surfaces. Therefore, it is very important to assess it in both types of the samples. In the present study we assessed fungal contamination in the air and in the surface samples to show relevance of surfaces sampling in complementing the results obtained in the air samples. Material and Methods: In total, 42 settings were assessed by the analysis of air and surfaces samples. The settings were divided into settings with a high fungal load (7 poultry farms and 7 pig farms, 3 cork industries, 3 waste management plants, 2 wastewater treatment plants and 1 horse stable) and a low fungal load (10 hospital canteens, 8 college canteens and 1 maternity hospital). In addition to culture-based methods, molecular tools were also applied to detect fungal burden in the settings with a higher fungal load. Results: From the 218 sampling sites, 140 (64.2%) presented different species in the examined surfaces when compared with the species identified in the air. A positive association in the high fungal load settings was found between the presence of different species in the air and surfaces. Wastewater treatment plants constituted the setting with the highest number of different species between the air and surface. Conclusions: We observed that surfaces sampling and application of molecular tools showed the same efficacy of species detection in high fungal load settings, corroborating the fact that surface sampling is crucial for a correct and complete analysis of occupational scenarios.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Analysis of surfaces for characterization of fungal burden – Does it matter?

Viegas¹,

Faria²,

Meneses³

et al. 2016

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Additionally, the fact that particles may act as a carrier and a source of nutrients for fungi (such as Aspergillus, Penicillium and Mucor genus) [41] and bacteria [3] also have to be considered. To this end we have to consider that larger particles fractions, such as fungi, are the most relevant ones for allergen exposure [42] and this claims attention to the fact that even particles from 5 µm and 10 µm sizes are relevant since they are the best carriers for fungi and other allergens present in the workplace.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational exposure to fungi and particles in animal feed industry

Viegas

Faria

Carolino

et al. 2016

Med Pr

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Very few studies regarding fungal and particulate matter (PM) exposure in feed industry have been reported, although such contaminants are likely to be a significant contributing factor to several symptoms reported among workers. The purpose of this study has been to characterize fungal and dust exposure in one Portuguese feed industry. Material and Methods: Air and surface samples were collected and subject to further macro-and microscopic observations. In addition we collected other air samples in order to perform real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genes from Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus complexes as well as Stachybotrys chartarum. Additionally, two exposure metrics were considered -particle mass concentration (PMC), measured in 5 different sizes (PM 0.5 , PM 1 , PM 2.5 , PM 5 , PM 10 ), and particle number concentration (PNC) based on results given in 6 different sizes in terms of diameter (0.3 µm, 0.5 µm, 1 µm, 2.5 µm, 5 µm and 10 µm). Results: Species from the Aspergillus fumigatus complex were the most abundant in air (46.6%) and in surfaces, Penicillium genus was the most frequently found (32%). The only DNA was detected from A. fumigatus complex. The most prevalent in dust samples were smaller particles which may reach deep into the respiratory system and trigger not only local effects but also the systemic ones. Conclusions: Future research work must be developed aiming at assessing the real health effects of these co-exposures. Med Pr 2016;67(2):143-154

show abstract

“…Concentrations in reservoir dust samples have been thought to be less influenced by temporal and spatial variability, more reproducible, and represent long-term exposure better than short-term air sampling [10•, 201]. However, the relevance of reservoir dust sampling in estimating personal exposures has been recently challenged.…”

Section: Bedroom Allergen Exposuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While for many allergens, especially dust mites, bedrooms have been considered the central site of exposure, some studies have questioned the site’s importance, suggesting that currently used methods might be over-simplifying and/or misleading [202•, 203]. Because inhalation of allergens is the most relevant exposure route, allergen exposure assessment should ideally be based on measurements of airborne allergen concentrations [201]. Although measuring personal exposure to airborne allergens in a longitudinal fashion is challenging for many technical and logistical reasons [201, 202•], progress has been reported, and recent studies have introduced new sampling equipment and approaches.…”

Section: Bedroom Allergen Exposuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because inhalation of allergens is the most relevant exposure route, allergen exposure assessment should ideally be based on measurements of airborne allergen concentrations [201]. Although measuring personal exposure to airborne allergens in a longitudinal fashion is challenging for many technical and logistical reasons [201, 202•], progress has been reported, and recent studies have introduced new sampling equipment and approaches. [38, 179, 202•, 203–206]…”

Section: Bedroom Allergen Exposuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Bedroom Allergen Exposure Beyond House Dust Mites

Salo

Cohn²,

Zeldin

2018

Curr Allergy Asthma Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose of the review: The review provides insight into recent findings on bedroom allergen exposures, primarily focusing on pet, pest and fungal exposures. Recent findings: Large-scale studies and improved exposure assessment technologies, including measurement of airborne allergens and of multiple allergens simultaneously, has extended our understanding of indoor allergen exposures and their impact on allergic disease. Practical, streamlined methods for exposure reduction have shown promise in some settings, and potential protective effects of early-life exposures have been further elucidated through the investigation of specific bacterial taxa. Advances in molecular allergology have yielded novel data on sensitization profiles and cross-reactivity. Summary: The role of indoor allergen exposures in allergic disease is complex and remains incompletely understood. Advancing our knowledge of various co-exposures, including the environmental and host microbiome, that interact with allergens in early life will be crucial for the development of efficacious interventions to reduce the substantial economic and social burden of allergic diseases including asthma.

show abstract

Monitoring of occupational and environmental aeroallergens – EAACI Position Paper

Cited by 68 publications

References 109 publications

Analysis of surfaces for characterization of fungal burden – Does it matter?

Analysis of surfaces for characterization of fungal burden – Does it matter?

Occupational exposure to fungi and particles in animal feed industry

Bedroom Allergen Exposure Beyond House Dust Mites

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About