title: Determinants of house dust, endotoxin, and β-(1→3)-D-glucan in homes of Danish children.
abstract: Little is known about the geographic variation and determinants of bacterial endotoxin and β-(1,3)-D-glucan in Danish house dust. In a population of 317 children, we: (i) described loads and concentrations of floor dust, endotoxin, and β-(1→3)-D-glucan and (ii) their correlations and (iii) assessed their determinants; (iv) Finally, we compared our findings with previous European studies. Bedroom floor dust was analyzed for endotoxin content by the kinetic limulus amoebocyte lysate assay and for β-(1→3)-D-glucan by the inhibition enzyme immunoassay. The parents answered questions regarding potential determinants. We found: geometric means (geometric standard deviations) 186 mg/m(2) (4.3) for dust; 5.46 × 10(3) EU/m(2) (8.0) and 31.1 × 10(3) EU/g (2.6) for endotoxin; and 142 μg/m(2) (14.3) and 0.71 × 10(3) μg/g (7.3) for β-(1→3)-D-glucan. High correlations (r > 0.75) were found between floor dust and endotoxin and β-(1→3)-D-glucan loads, while endotoxin and β-(1→3)-D-glucan concentrations were moderately correlated (r = 0.36-0.41) with the dust load. Having a carpet was positively associated with dust load and with endotoxin and β-(1→3)-D-glucan concentrations. Pet keeping, dwelling type, and dwelling location were determinants of endotoxin concentrations. No other determinants were associated with β-(1→3)-D-glucan concentrations. Compared with other European studies, we found lower β-(1→3)-D-glucan loads and concentrations but higher endotoxin loads and concentrations suggesting a geographically determined different composition of Danish floor dust compared with other European regions.
authors.affiliation: Section of Environment, Occupation and Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holst
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Høst
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doekes
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sigsgaard
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001513:Beds; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057805:Pets; D011509:Proteoglycans; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C010770:polysaccharide-K
keywords: Dampness and mold; Endotoxin; House dust; Housing characteristics; Occupant; β-(1→3)-d-glucan