Of microbes and men

Nevalainen, Aino; Seuri, Markku

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2005.00344.x

Cited by 85 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…"Bio-aerosols", such as bacteria, fungi, pollen, viruses and their byproducts, as well as fragments from living organisms, such as allergens, occur in communities and are ubiquitous in indoor air [29]. Therefore, the microbial milieu within the animal fur is suggested to be dependent on the home environment, housing and personal characteristics of the inhabitants [30,31]. In addition to this, the use of synthetic bedding above feather bedding has been considered as a possible risk factor for respiratory symptoms in children in some previous studies due to higher levels of mite allergens [32,33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleeping on animal fur is related to asthma outcomes in later childhood

et al. 2015

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Animal furs might represent a "proxy" for high and diverse microbial exposures within a critical time window of immune development. We assessed whether sleeping on animal fur shortly after birth is associated with asthma and atopy up to the age of 10 years.LISAplus participants (n=2441) from Munich and Leipzig, Germany, were included in the analysis. Animal fur exposure, cofactors and health outcomes were obtained periodically up to 10 years of age by parental questionnaires. Information on specific IgE to aeroallergens was available at 10 years. Cytokineproducing peripheral T-cells were assessed in a subgroup of children at 2 and 3 years. Confounderadjusted associations were evaluated using logistic regression analyses.Sleeping on animal fur was very common (55%). In adjusted logistic regression analyses, sleeping on animal fur was inversely associated with recurrent early wheezing at 4 years (adjusted OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61-0.93) and current asthma at 6 years (adjusted OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.31-1.01). Furthermore, sleeping on animal fur during the first 3 months of life was significantly associated with a persistently stimulated interferon-γ response until the age of 3 years.Animal fur could be an effective measure of creating environments associated with higher microbial exposure. @ERSpublications Use of animal fur could be effective for creating environments associated with possibly higher microbial exposure http://ow.ly/IWhTp

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleeping on animal fur is related to asthma outcomes in later childhood

et al. 2015

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“…3,4 Little is known, however, if and how biological and chemical agents associated with moisture damage and dampness play a role in the observed adverse health effects, such as respiratory symptoms, respiratory infections and exacerbation of asthma. 5 Mycotoxins, which are toxic secondary metabolites produced by many moulds, mostly as a means to mediate competitive interactions, are among the suspected causative agents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial secondary metabolites in school buildings inspected for moisture damage in Finland, The Netherlands and Spain

et al. 2012

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Secondary metabolites produced by fungi and bacteria are among the potential agents that contribute to adverse health effects observed in occupants of buildings affected by moisture damage, dampness and associated microbial growth. However, few attempts have been made to assess the occurrence of these compounds in relation to moisture damage and dampness in buildings. This study conducted in the context of the HITEA project (Health Effects of Indoor Pollutants: Integrating microbial, toxicological and epidemiological approaches) aimed at providing systematic information on the prevalence of microbial secondary metabolites in a large number of school buildings in three European countries, considering both buildings with and without moisture damage and/or dampness observations. In order to address the multitude and diversity of secondary metabolites a large number of more than 180 analytes was targeted in settled dust and surface swab samples using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) based methodology. While 42%, 58% and 44% of all samples collected in Spanish, Dutch and Finnish schools, respectively, were positive for at least one of the metabolites analyzed, frequency of detection for the individual microbial secondary metabolites -with the exceptions of emodin, certain enniatins and physcion -was low, typically in the range of and below 10% of positive samples. In total, 30 different fungal and bacterial secondary metabolites were found in the samples. Some differences in the metabolite profiles were observed between countries and between index and reference school buildings. A major finding in this study was that settled dust derived from moisture damaged, damp schools contained larger numbers of microbial secondary metabolites at higher levels compared to respective dust samples from schools not affected by moisture damage and dampness. This observation was true for schools in each of the three countries, but became statistically significant only when combining schools from all countries and thus increasing the sample number in the statistical analyses. Environmental impactA multitude of different microbial secondary metabolites, often referred to as 'microbial toxins', are part of the complex exposures encountered in indoor environments. This study shows that moisture damage and dampness observed in school buildings link to an increase in the number of different mycotoxins present at elevated levels in settled dust; however, it is evident that microbial toxins are also present in non-damaged buildings as part of the 'normal' microbial flora indoors. This extensive study lays the grounds for future attempts to measure indoor exposure to microbial toxins and to assess the health risks related to such exposure.

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“…Moreover, housing conditions, the activities and life style of occupants considerably contribute to the varying concentrations [16]. Under normal conditions, bacteria and fungi do not notably grow in building materials or structures or on indoor surfaces, mainly because of lack of moisture [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioaerosols in Indoor Environment - A Review with Special Reference to Residential and Occupational Locations

Brandl¹

2011

TOEBMJ

171

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Bioaerosols such as bacterial and fungal cells and their spores are -along with non-biological particles -part of indoor airborne particulate matter and have been related since a long time to health issues of human beings as well as flora, and fauna. To identify the different risks and to establish exposure thresholds, microbiology of air samples from a series of indoor environments must be characterized, i.e. the different microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) must be identified and quantified. This review discusses the techniques of air sampling and sample analysis. In addition, a literature study has been performed regarding the levels of these microorganisms in various indoor occupational (e.g., schools, offices, hospitals, museums) and dwelling environments. These results will provide a significant scientific basis for indoor air quality control and help in elaborating risk prevention programs for workers and dwellers. This review shall contribute to the knowledge of identification and quantification of airborne microbial constituents in various indoor environments. Combining the indoor microbial load data with data from studies focusing on health effects caused by inhalation of specific airborne microorganisms will allow the evaluation of various risks to which inhabitants are exposed. Bioaerosols in Indoor Environment -A Review with Special Reference to Residential and Occupational LocationsJyotshna Mandal and Helmut Brandl* Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, SwitzerlandAbstract: Bioaerosols such as bacterial and fungal cells and their spores are -along with non-biological particles -part of indoor airborne particulate matter and have been related since a long time to health issues of human beings as well as flora, and fauna. To identify the different risks and to establish exposure thresholds, microbiology of air samples from a series of indoor environments must be characterized, i.e. the different microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) must be identified and quantified. This review discusses the techniques of air sampling and sample analysis. In addition, a literature study has been performed regarding the levels of these microorganisms in various indoor occupational (e.g., schools, offices, hospitals, museums) and dwelling environments. These results will provide a significant scientific basis for indoor air quality control and help in elaborating risk prevention programs for workers and dwellers. This review shall contribute to the knowledge of identification and quantification of airborne microbial constituents in various indoor environments. Combining the indoor microbial load data with data from studies focusing on health effects caused by inhalation of specific airborne microorganisms will allow the evaluation of various risks to which inhabitants are exposed.

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Of microbes and men

Cited by 85 publications

References 70 publications

Sleeping on animal fur is related to asthma outcomes in later childhood

Sleeping on animal fur is related to asthma outcomes in later childhood

Microbial secondary metabolites in school buildings inspected for moisture damage in Finland, The Netherlands and Spain

Bioaerosols in Indoor Environment - A Review with Special Reference to Residential and Occupational Locations

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