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Ulrike Gehring,^1,2 Jeroen Douwes,³ Gert Doekes,³ Andrea Koch,⁴ Wolfgang Bischof,⁴ Bärbel Fahlbusch,⁵ Kai Richter,⁶ H.-Erich Wichmann,^1,2 and Joachim Heinrich¹ for the INGA Study Group

¹GSF - National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg, Germany; ²Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Institute of Medical Data Management, Biometrics and Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Munich, Germany; ³Utrecht University, Environmental and Occupational Health Group, Utrecht, The Netherlands; ⁴Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Erfurt, Germany; ⁵Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, Institute of Clinical Immunology, Jena, Germany; ⁶Grosshansdorf Hospital, Hamburg, Germany

Abstract

ß(13) -Glucans are potent proinflammatory agents that have been suggested to play a role in indoor-related respiratory health effects. The aim of this study was to assess whether ß(13) -glucan concentrations in house dust are correlated with levels of endotoxins, allergens, and culturable mold spore counts in house dust. Further, the associations of ß(13) -glucan with housing characteristics and occupant behavior were assessed. ß(13) -Glucan was measured in settled house dust from living room floors of 395 homes of two German cities, Erfurt and Hamburg, with a specific enzyme immunoassay. Concentrations ranged from below the limit of detection to 19,013 µg/m² (22,588 µg/g dust) . Concentrations per square meter were found to be correlated with endotoxins, mite and cat allergens, and culturable mold spores. Correlations were weaker when concentrations were expressed per gram of dust, indicating that variance in concentrations of all factors is largely determined by the amount of dust sampled. Associations between ß(13) -glucan, housing characteristics, and occupant behavior were found for concentrations per square meter but not for concentrations per gram of dust. The following characteristics were associated with a significant increase in ß(13) -glucan levels: carpets in the living room [means ratio (MR) = 1.9-2.1], keeping a dog inside (MR = 1.4) , use of the home by four or more persons (MR = 1.4) , use of the living room for > 180 hr/week (MR = 2.1) , lower frequency of vacuum cleaning (MR = 1.6-3.0) and dust cleaning (MR = 1.2 and 1.4, respectively) , and presence of mold spots during the past 12 months (MR = 1.4) . We conclude that that the amount of dust sampled can be used as a proxy for hygiene and that ß(13) -glucan concentrations per square meter are related to the amount of dust sampled. Key words: ß(13) -glucan, allergens, endotoxins, house dust, housing characteristics, indoor factors, molds, occupant behavior. Environ Health Perspect 109:139-144 (2001) . [Online 19 January 2001]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2001/109p139-144gehring/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to U. Gehring, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany. Telephone: +49-89-3187-2549. Fax: +49-89-3187-3380. E-mail: gehring@gsf.de

This study was supported by the Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research, and Technology, grant 01 EE 93016.

Received 18 May 2000 ; accepted 11 September 2000.