title: Indoor environmental quality in homes of asthmatic children on the Elsipogtog Reserve (NB), Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To inspect houses and analyze settled dust from 26 homes with asthmatic children in the Elsipogtog Reserve, New Brunswick, for contaminants known to be associated with respiratory symptoms. This pilot observational study was conducted in order to enable larger research into housing and health in Aboriginal communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six homes were subject to an informed inspection and settled dust collection from the child's bedroom. The fine dust (< 300 microm) was analyzed for endotoxin, house dust mite and fungal glucan concentrations, as well as for building-associated fungi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of homes in this study that had mould damage was slightly higher than in much larger studies in other parts of Canada. Qualitatively, the causes of the water and mould damage were similar to those found in a larger study in nearby PEI. However, in a few cases, the type of damage found in Elsipogtog was at a more advanced stage. House dust mite allergens, endotoxin and fungal glucan concentrations in settled dust included values that have been associated with increased respiratory symptoms. This selection of houses was, on average, cleaner than many homes studied in Canada. CONCLUSION. Although the range of mould damage observed in this study was similar to that seen elsewhere in Canada, the underlying causes tended to reflect more serious maintenance problems. A systematic evaluation of mould damage, on a community-wide basis, is a useful process to set priorities for repair.
authors.affiliation: Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Chemistry, Carleton University,Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berghout
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazerolle
authors.forename: Len
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wakelin
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maybee
authors.forename: Darlene
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Augustine
authors.forename: Carol Ann
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Charlie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milliea
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008925:Mites; D009509:New Brunswick / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D047071:beta-Glucans