INDOOR AIRBORNE FUNGAL SPORES, HOUSE DAMPNESS AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS AND RESPIRATORY HEALTH IN CHILDREN

Background. Children living in a damp house are more likely to suffer from respiratory symptoms and it has been suggested that exposure to f ungi is an important contributing factor. However, more knowledge abou t underlying mechanisms for the association are needed. Objective. To identify associations between measures of house dampness, levels of ai rborne fungal spores, housing factors and health outcomes in children. Methods. Eighty households with 148 children between 7 and 14 years o f age were recruited in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia. Some 36% of participating children were asthmatic. Six sampling visits were made to each house between March 1994 and February 1995 on a 2-monthl y cycle. Samples for airborne total and viable fungal spores were coll ected from bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and outdoors. A detailed d welling characterization, using a questionnaire and inspection surveys , was carried out. Skin-prick tests were performed with extracts of co mmon aeroallergens and a respiratory questionnaire was completed for e ach child. Results. Large airborne fungal spore concentrations were re corded in association with: musty odour, water intrusion, high indoor humidity, limited ventilation through open windows, few extractor fans and failure to remove indoor mould growth. Visible mould growth or co ndensation evidence was associated with large concentrations of Clados porium spores, but not with large total spore concentrations. Penicill ium exposure was a risk factor for asthma, while Aspergillus exposure was a risk factor for atopy. Fungal allergies were more common among c hildren exposed to Cladosporium or Penicillium in winter or to musty o dour. Respiratory symptoms were marginally more common with exposure t o Cladosporium or total spores in winter. Conclusion. Indoor exposure to certain fungal genera in winter was a risk factor for asthma, atopy and respiratory symptoms in children. On the other hand, no significa nt associations were seen between average viable or total spore concen trations and child health. Actual measurements of fungal spores predic t health outcomes better than reported dampness.