VIABLE FUNGI IN INDOOR AIR IN HOMES AND SCHOOLS IN THE SOR-VARANGER COMMUNITY DURING WINTER

The present study investigated the content of fungal aerospores in hom es and schools of house-dust-mite (HDM)-sensitized and control childre n in a subarctic area. During winter, airborne microfungi were collect ed from the homes and schools of 19 HDM-sensitized children and 19 non atopic controls, all living in the community of Sor-Varanger, northern Norway. The samples were cultivated and microfungal growth was identi fied microscopically. Indoor humidity, temperature, and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations were measured. Housing conditions and sociodemog raphic and symptom data were obtained by a questionnaire. Penicillium was the most common microfungus in both homes and schools, followed by various yeasts, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Mucor: The number of i nfected homes was equal in the HDM-sensitized group and the control gr oup, but aerospore counts were higher in the HDM-sensitized group than in the control group. The lowest aerospore counts were found in the s chools. High aerospore counts also appeared to be related to high indo or humidity. The keeping of pets and damp indoor conditions were more frequent in homes of HDM-sensitized children than in the control group , whereas parental smoking and carpeting occurred with equal frequency in both groups. This indicates that no allergy sanitation measures ha d been undertaken, especially in the homes of the HDM-sensitized child ren.