Nasal Lavage Biomarkers: Effects of Water Damage and Microbial Growth in an Office Building

Abstract

Selected nasal symptoms were studied in personnel who worked in a damp office building that had microbial growth (including Stachybotrys sp.) in mineral fiber insulation and gypsum board. There were also signs of dampness in the floor. Clinical examinations included nasal lavage and peak expiratory flow measurements in 12 subjects in the damp building; an additional 8 subjects in a control building (i.e., no signs of dampness or microbial growth) were also examined. Hygienic air measurements of microorganisms and volatile organic compounds were performed in both buildings. The concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein, myeloperoxidase, and albumin, and the number of subjects with eosinophils in lavage fluid, were higher among office workers in the damp building than among controls. The damp biiilding had greater amounts of total molds and bacteria in its construction than the building materials in nondamp buildings. In addition, an increase of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in the indoor air was detected in the damp building-a sign of dampness-related alkaline degradation of diethyl-hexyl phthalate in polyvinyl chloride floor coatings. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that exposures in a damp office building may cause an inflammatory nasal mucosal response. The results also support conclusions of earlier studies, indicating that building dampness is related to respiratory inflammation.

Indoor environmental exposures and symptoms.

“…There is, meanwhile, clear evidence from nasal lavage studies that bioaerosol exposure is associated with some immunologic markers that are not present in individuals without exposure or symptoms (45,46). As in the past, the lack of an explanation for symptoms in individuals may reflect our lack of research rather than the absence of some cause and effect.…”

Indoor Mold, Toxigenic Fungi, andStachybotrys chartarum: Infectious Disease Perspective

“…However, the study did not document which fungus was responsible or if the results were controlled for confounding factors. Other work found increased concentrations of eosinophils, eosinophil cationic protein, and myeloperoxidase in the nasal lavage fluid of office workers in damp buildings compared to controls (435,436). Damp buildings had larger amounts of molds and bacteria, as well as evidence of volatiles from degraded polyvinyl chloride floor coatings.…”

Assessment of Airborne Microflora in the Indoor Micro-Environments of Residential Houses of Lahore, Pakistan

“…Temperature has been known to affect the concentrations of air-borne pollen and particulate matter while relative humidity can decrease the particulate levels in the ambient air (Mirme and Ruuskanen, 1996;Bauer et al, 2002;Beggs, 2004;Martuzevicius et al, 2004). It is also noteworthy that since modern buildings tend to be more air tight, resulting in reduced ventilation, the risk of exposure to bioaerosols increases (Walinder et al, 2001;Kembel et al, 2012). It is therefore necessary to maintain an adequate ventilation rate so as to continuously circulate and replace the indoor air with outdoor air and thus resulting in diluting the indoor concentrations of the airborne microbes and particulate matter.…”