Seasonal Variations of Indoor Microbial Exposures and Their Relation to Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Air Exchange Rate

Overview

Journal Appl Environ Microbiol

Specialties Environmental Health
Microbiology

Date 2012 Sep 25

PMID 23001651

Citations 67

Authors

Mika Frankel

Gabriel Beko

Michael Timm

Sine Gustavsen

Erik Wind Hansen

Anne Mette Madsen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Indoor microbial exposure has been related to adverse pulmonary health effects. Exposure assessment is not standardized, and various factors may affect the measured exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal variation of selected microbial exposures and their associations with temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange rates in Danish homes. Airborne inhalable dust was sampled in five Danish homes throughout the four seasons of 1 year (indoors, n = 127; outdoors, n = 37). Measurements included culturable fungi and bacteria, endotoxin, N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase, total inflammatory potential, particles (0.75 to 15 μm), temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange rates. Significant seasonal variation was found for all indoor microbial exposures, excluding endotoxin. Indoor fungi peaked in summer (median, 235 CFU/m(3)) and were lowest in winter (median, 26 CFU/m(3)). Indoor bacteria peaked in spring (median, 2,165 CFU/m(3)) and were lowest in summer (median, 240 CFU/m(3)). Concentrations of fungi were predominately higher outdoors than indoors, whereas bacteria, endotoxin, and inhalable dust concentrations were highest indoors. Bacteria and endotoxin correlated with the mass of inhalable dust and number of particles. Temperature and air exchange rates were positively associated with fungi and N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase and negatively with bacteria and the total inflammatory potential. Although temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange rates were significantly associated with several indoor microbial exposures, they could not fully explain the observed seasonal variations when tested in a mixed statistical model. In conclusion, the season significantly affects indoor microbial exposures, which are influenced by temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange rates.

Citing Articles

Microbial exposure during recycling of domestic waste: a cross-sectional study of composition and associations with inflammatory markers.

Hansen K, Rasmussen P, Schlunssen V, Broberg K, Ostergaard K, Tranchant E Occup Environ Med. 2024; 81(11):580-587.

PMID: 39557564 PMC: 11671902. DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2024-109628.

Moving beyond species: fungal function in house dust provides novel targets for potential indicators of mold growth in homes.

Balasubrahmaniam N, King J, Hegarty B, Dannemiller K Microbiome. 2024; 12(1):231.

PMID: 39517024 PMC: 11549777. DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01915-9.

Assessment of the microbial contamination in "Do It Yourself" (DIY) stores - a holistic approach to protect workers' and consumers' health.

Dias M, Gomes B, Pena P, Cervantes R, Goncalves S, Carolino E Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1483281.

PMID: 39494078 PMC: 11528695. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1483281.

A cross-sectional study on occupational hygiene in biowaste plants.

Madsen A, Rasmussen P, Delsuz M, Frederiksen M Ann Work Expo Health. 2024; 68(9):967-981.

PMID: 39312492 PMC: 11586275. DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxae074.

Evaluation of Aging Effect on the Durability of Antibacterial Treatments Applied on Textile Materials for the Automotive Industry.

Arese M, Mania I, Brunella V, Lambertini V, Gorra R ACS Omega. 2024; 9(25):27169-27176.

PMID: 38947847 PMC: 11209923. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c01272.

References

Atkinson R, Strachan D, Anderson H, Hajat S, Emberlin J . Temporal associations between daily counts of fungal spores and asthma exacerbations. Occup Environ Med. 2006; 63(9):580-90. PMC: 2078167. DOI: 10.1136/oem.2005.024448. View

Herbarth O, Schlink U, Muller A, Richter M . Spatiotemporal distribution of airborne mould spores in apartments. Mycol Res. 2004; 107(Pt 11):1361-71. DOI: 10.1017/s0953756203008566. View

Madsen A . Airborne endotoxin in different background environments and seasons. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2006; 13(1):81-6. View

Taubel M, Rintala H, Pitkaranta M, Paulin L, Laitinen S, Pekkanen J . The occupant as a source of house dust bacteria. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009; 124(4):834-40.e47. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2009.07.045. View

Letourneau V, Meriaux A, Goyer N, Chakir J, Cormier Y, Duchaine C . Biological activities of respirable dust from Eastern Canadian peat moss factories. Toxicol In Vitro. 2010; 24(4):1273-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2010.03.019. View

Tang J . The effect of environmental parameters on the survival of airborne infectious agents. J R Soc Interface. 2009; 6 Suppl 6:S737-46. PMC: 2843949. DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2009.0227.focus. View

Kurup V, Shen H, Banerjee B . Respiratory fungal allergy. Microbes Infect. 2000; 2(9):1101-10. DOI: 10.1016/s1286-4579(00)01264-8. View

Arundel A, Sterling E, Biggin J, Sterling T . Indirect health effects of relative humidity in indoor environments. Environ Health Perspect. 1986; 65:351-61. PMC: 1474709. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.8665351. View

Mazique D, Diette G, Breysse P, Matsui E, McCormack M, Curtin-Brosnan J . Predictors of airborne endotoxin concentrations in inner city homes. Environ Res. 2011; 111(4):614-7. PMC: 3085396. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2011.03.001. View

10.

Denning D, ODriscoll B, Hogaboam C, Bowyer P, Niven R . The link between fungi and severe asthma: a summary of the evidence. Eur Respir J. 2006; 27(3):615-26. DOI: 10.1183/09031936.06.00074705. View

11.

Hargreaves M, Parappukkaran S, Morawska L, Hitchins J, He C, Gilbert D . A pilot investigation into associations between indoor airborne fungal and non-biological particle concentrations in residential houses in Brisbane, Australia. Sci Total Environ. 2003; 312(1-3):89-101. DOI: 10.1016/S0048-9697(03)00169-4. View

12.

Horick N, Weller E, Milton D, Gold D, Li R, Spiegelman D . Home endotoxin exposure and wheeze in infants: correction for bias due to exposure measurement error. Environ Health Perspect. 2006; 114(1):135-40. PMC: 1332669. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.7981. View

13.

Ren P, Jankun T, Belanger K, Bracken M, Leaderer B . The relation between fungal propagules in indoor air and home characteristics. Allergy. 2001; 56(5):419-24. DOI: 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2001.056005419.x. View

14.

Kurup V, Shen H, Vijay H . Immunobiology of fungal allergens. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2002; 129(3):181-8. DOI: 10.1159/000066780. View

15.

Michel O, Kips J, Duchateau J, Vertongen F, Robert L, Collet H . Severity of asthma is related to endotoxin in house dust. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996; 154(6 Pt 1):1641-6. DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm.154.6.8970348. View

16.

Fung F, Hughson W . Health effects of indoor fungal bioaerosol exposure. Appl Occup Environ Hyg. 2003; 18(7):535-44. DOI: 10.1080/10473220301451. View

17.

Madsen A . Effects of airflow and changing humidity on the aerosolization of respirable fungal fragments and conidia of Botrytis cinerea. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012; 78(11):3999-4007. PMC: 3346389. DOI: 10.1128/AEM.07879-11. View

18.

Park J, Gold D, Spiegelman D, Burge H, Milton D . House dust endotoxin and wheeze in the first year of life. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001; 163(2):322-8. DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm.163.2.2002088. View

19.

Verhoeff A, Burge H . Health risk assessment of fungi in home environments. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1997; 78(6):544-54; quiz 555-6. DOI: 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)63214-0. View

20.

Madsen A, Schlunssen V, Olsen T, Sigsgaard T, Avci H . Airborne fungal and bacterial components in PM1 dust from biofuel plants. Ann Occup Hyg. 2009; 53(7):749-57. PMC: 2758667. DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/mep045. View