IgE antibodies to fungi among asthmatic children living in homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy in New York City

Details

• Personal Author:
  Acosta L ; Clark N ; D'Andrea C ; Divjan A ; Green B ; Little M ; Perzanowski M ; Sobek E ; Soffer N
• Description:
  Objective: In New York City (NYC), domestic mold contamination has been a public health concern and the most common residential complaint following Hurricane Sandy (HS). The objective of this research was to determine the susceptibility of asthmatic children to adverse health effects from fungal exposures following catastrophic water damage. Methods: Asthmatic children (n=58) living in homes damaged by HS were recruited (ages 6-15 years). Dust was collected from homes and serum from children 16-33 months after HS. Bedroom floor dust was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction for 36 fungi (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index panel) and compared to results from non-damaged homes (NYC Neighborhood Asthma and Allergy Study, n=347). IgE was measured by CAP (ThermoFisher, >0.1 IU/ml considered positive) to common fungi and those selected based on fungi detected in HS-damaged home dust. Results: As compared to non-damaged homes, significantly (P<0.05) more Hurricane Sandy damaged homes had measurable Acremonium strictum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus penicillioides, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Epicoccum nigrum, Mucor amphibiorum, Penicillium purpurogenum, and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. Nearly all homes (damaged and non-damaged) had detectable levels of Aureobasidium pullulans and Cladosporium herbarum. Many (50%) of the children in HS damaged homes had measureable IgE to at least one of the fungi tested, most commonly, Alternaria alternata (36%), Candida albicans (22%) Aureobasidium pullulans (19%), Aspergillus fumigatus (17%), Helminthosporium halodes (17%) and Mucor racemosus (17%). Conclusions: Among asthmatic children living in NYC homes damaged by HS, sensitization to fungi was common, including to some species that were higher in HS-damaged homes. The ongoing analysis of fungal sensitization and effects on asthma morbidity will further characterize the impacts of Hurricane Sandy on this population. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Antibodies Asthma Bacteria Dust Environmental Exposure Fungi Hazardous Substances Hypersensitivity Microbiology Occupational Health Public Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety

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• Keywords:
  Age Groups Bacterial Dusts Bronchial Asthma Children Dust Exposure Dust Extraction Environmental Exposure Exposure Levels Health Effects Health Hazards Humans Microorganisms Molds Natural Disasters Public Health Risk Factors Sensitization

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• Publisher:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; Tennessee ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  59
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048252
• Citation:
  AIHce 2016: American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition Pathways to Progress, May 21-26, 2016, Baltimore, Maryland. Falls Church, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2016 May; :59
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance ; Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  AIHce 2016: American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition Pathways to Progress, May 21-26, 2016, Baltimore, Maryland
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:44e26ebbc662a9afa86111957b11a4437ad5422d887da76a315e8ade80851fb1fdd7d6b0bda7edcb77900206d39684f6733199e320bbcee8f62b0c074511df7a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/203057/cdc_203057_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.49 MB ]