Determinants of house dust, endotoxin, and <i>β</i>‐(1→3)‐<sc>D</sc>‐glucan in homes of <fc>D</fc>anish children: Fid-Bau Portal

Determinants of house dust, endotoxin, and β‐(1→3)‐D‐glucan in homes of Danish children

Holst, G. / Høst, A. / Doekes, G. / Meyer, H. W. / Madsen, A. M. / Sigsgaard, T.

Little is known about the geographic variation and determinants of bacterial endotoxin and β ‐(1,3)‐d‐glucan in Danish house dust. In a population of 317 children, we: (i) described loads and concentrations of floor dust, endotoxin, and β‐(1→3)‐d‐glucan and (ii) their correlations and (iii) assessed their determinants; (iv) Finally, we compared our findings with previous European studies. Bedroom floor dust was analyzed for endotoxin content by the kinetic limulus amoebocyte lysate assay and for β‐(1→3)‐d‐glucan by the inhibition enzyme immunoassay. The parents answered questions regarding potential determinants. We found: geometric means (geometric standard deviations) 186 mg/m² (4.3) for dust; 5.46 × 10³EU/m² (8.0) and 31.1 × 10³EU/g (2.6) for endotoxin; and 142 μg/m² (14.3) and 0.71 × 10³ μg/g (7.3) for β‐(1→3)‐d‐glucan. High correlations (r > 0.75) were found between floor dust and endotoxin and β‐(1→3)‐d‐glucan loads, while endotoxin and β‐(1→3)‐d‐glucan concentrations were moderately correlated (r = 0.36–0.41) with the dust load. Having a carpet was positively associated with dust load and with endotoxin and β‐(1→3)‐d‐glucan concentrations. Pet keeping, dwelling type, and dwelling location were determinants of endotoxin concentrations. No other determinants were associated with β‐(1→3)‐d‐glucan concentrations. Compared with other European studies, we found lower β‐(1→3)‐d‐glucan loads and concentrations but higher endotoxin loads and concentrations suggesting a geographically determined different composition of Danish floor dust compared with other European regions.