title: Concentration and determinants of molds and allergens in indoor air and house dust of French dwellings.
abstract: Molds and allergens are common indoor biocontaminants. The aims of this study were to assess the concentrations of common molds in indoor air and floor dust and the concentrations of house dust mite, cat and dog allergens in mattress dust in French dwellings, and to assess predictors of these concentrations. A sample of 150 houses in Brittany (western France) was investigated. Airborne Cladosporium and Penicillium were detected in more than 90% of the dwellings, Aspergillus in 46% and Alternaria in only 6% of the housings. Regarding floor dust samples, Cladosporium and Penicillium were detected in 92 and 80% of the housings respectively, Aspergillus in 49% and Alternaria in 14%. House dust mite allergens Der p1 and Der f1 were detected in 90% and 77% of the mattress dust samples respectively and Can f1 and Fel d1 in 37% and 89% of the homes. Airborne and dustborne mold concentrations, although not statistically correlated (except for Aspergillus) shared most of their predictors. Multivariate linear models for mold levels, explaining up to 62% of the variability, showed an influence of the season, of the age of the dwelling, of aeration habits, presence of pets, smoking, signals of dampness, temperature and relative humidity. Allergens in the dust of the mattress were strongly related to the presence of pets and cleaning practices of bedsheets, these factors accounting for 60% of the variability. This study highlights ubiquitous contamination by molds and underlines complex interaction between outdoor and indoor sources and factors.
authors.affiliation: EHESP School of Public Health, Rennes, France; Inserm UMR 1085-IRSET, Research institute on environmental and occupational health, Rennes, France; French Environment and Energy Management Agency, Angers, France. Electronic address: arnaud.dallongeville@ehesp.fr.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dallongeville
authors.affiliation: EHESP School of Public Health, Rennes, France; Inserm UMR 1085-IRSET, Research institute on environmental and occupational health, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Cann
authors.affiliation: EHESP School of Public Health, Rennes, France; Inserm UMR 1085-IRSET, Research institute on environmental and occupational health, Rennes, France; Lorraine University Medical School, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zmirou-Navier
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR 1085-IRSET, Research institute on environmental and occupational health, Rennes, France; Rennes 1 University, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chevrier
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR 1085-IRSET, Research institute on environmental and occupational health, Rennes, France; Rennes 1 University, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Costet
authors.affiliation: EPAR, UMR S 1136, i-PLESP, Pierre et Marie Curie University Medical School, Paris, France; EPAR, UMR S 1136, i-PLESP, INSERM, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Annesi-Maesano
authors.affiliation: EHESP School of Public Health, Rennes, France; Inserm UMR 1085-IRSET, Research institute on environmental and occupational health, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Blanchard
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005602:France; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust
keywords: Dampness; Fungi; Indoor exposure; Predictors