title: Health effects associated with exposure to residential organic dust.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed at relating self-reported health complaints to bioaerosol pollution in the residential outdoor air and to duration of storing organic waste indoors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, double blinded to ongoing environmental microbial measurements, physicians collected questionnaires in a neighborhood with a composting site and in unexposed controls. Self-reported prevalence of health complaints, physician diagnoses as well as residential odor annoyance and home hygiene were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An elevation of reports of irritative airway complaints was associated with residency in an area with highest bioaerosol exposure but not with odor annoyance. Longer indoor storage of organic waste was associated with skin related symptoms. Atopic subjects were at higher risk. Airway-related health problems were not associated with longer storage of organic wastes in homes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to organic dust in residential air affects airways of residents while exposure in homes due to organic wastes affects the skin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Germany. caroline.herr@hygiene.med.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: Caroline E W
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.forename: Anja zur
authors.initials: Az
authors.lastname: Nieden Az
authors.forename: Nikolaos I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Stilianakis
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Eikmann
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D005076:Exanthema / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins