title: Characterizing microbial exposure with ergosterol, 3-hydroxy fatty acids, and viable microbes in house dust: determinants and association with childhood asthma.
abstract: The authors assessed determinants of ergosterol, 3-OH fatty acids (FAs), and viable microbes in vacuum cleaner dust, and investigated the association between these microbial markers and childhood asthma. The authors studied the homes of 36 children who were new cases of childhood asthma and the homes of 36 controls. Home characteristics explained 34% to 44% of the variation in levels of different microbial groups. Determinants of 3-OH FAs were a lower level of cleanliness, having a fireplace, having livestock, and moisture damage; determinants of viable bacteria were the level of home repair needed and the material used in the building frame of the home. Ergosterol was associated with the presence of livestock and the practice of cleaning rugs outside; viable fungi was associated with the material used in the building frame, visible mold, and the practice of cleaning rugs outside. Exposure to mesophilic actinomycetes was nonsignificantly associated with risk of asthma. The authors concluded that the variation of microbial levels in dust could be explained relatively well by home characteristics, and suggested that exposure to mesophilic actinomycetes may increase the risk of new asthma.
authors.affiliation: National Public Health Institute, Environmental Health Department, Kuopio, Finland. Anne.Hyvarinen@ktl.fi
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hyvärinen
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sebastian
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pekkanen
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korppi
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Putus
authors.forename: Aino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nevalainen
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005387:Finland; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004875:Ergosterol