Building-Related Asthma Is Due to Non-Allergic Mechanisms

Details

• Personal Author:
  Brooks, Stuart M. ; Fox R ; McCluskey JD ; Spaul W ; Targino MC
• Description:
  RATIONALE: In order to gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of building-related asthma, this investigation explored indoor air quality measurements and clinical parameters of employees with new-onset asthma. METHODS: Over several months, detailed environmental monitoring of a 2-story building and clinical investigations of employees were performed. RESULTS: There was insufficient fresh air to dilute and remove indoor contaminants from the first floor. Recirculated air was reduced (65% of expected) and fresh air delivery was approximately 1/3 required (6.7 CFM/person); there were acceptable measurements on the second floor. First floor CO2 range was 700 -1500 ppm; Second floor was less than 700 ppm. First floor formaldehyde (range, 170-570 ppm) was approximately 10-20 times higher than second floor levels (range, 18-60 ppm). Outdoor formaldehyde was 7 ppm. Outdoor fungal levels (mean, 510 CFU/m3) were approximately 3 times higher than first floor (mean, 170 CFU/m3). A telephone survey (46 employees) identified 21 (46%) subjects with respiratory complaints; 19 worked on the first floor. Seven of 19 (37%) had new-onset, physician-diagnosed asthma. Spirometry, atopy, irritation and upper respiratory symptoms were similar for asthmatic and non-asthmatic subjects. Asthmatics were younger, had more family history of allergy, fewer mold skin allergy responses, and greater methacholine reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: For this population, results suggest that building-related asthma developed through non-allergic mechanisms. Likely, reduced indoor fresh air supply allowed build-up of reactive molecules including formaldehyde. We propose that indoor chemical reactions may explain the outcomes of our investigation. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollution, Indoor Demography Environmental Health Epidemiology Lung Lung Diseases Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Demographic-characteristics Indoor-air-pollution Indoor-environmental-quality Pulmonary-disorders Pulmonary-system-disorders Respiratory-system-disorders Statistical-analysis
• ISSN:
  1073-449X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary ; Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  169
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20026048
• Citation:
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004 Apr; 169(7)(Abstracts):A648
• Email:
  sbrooks@hsc.usf.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Formaldehyde (CAS RN 50-00-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• Performing Organization:
  College of Public Health, Universtiy of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
• Supplement:
  Abstracts
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ecf534ef07348a1397f85f7b10e35402d77b3fc68e9a25f40456430dc9164ffc7534ddcc626e10724506f19c1e0d568b0b05746511a318c6e2b23337d202cbd5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197170/cdc_197170_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 379.54 KB ]