Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
Asthma and respiratory symptoms in hospital workers related to dampness and biological contaminants
Abstract The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health investigated respiratory symptoms and asthma in relation to damp indoor environments in employees of two hospitals. A cluster of six work‐related asthma cases from one hospital department, whose symptoms arose during a time of significant water incursions, led us to conduct a survey of respiratory health in 1171/1834 employees working in the sentinel cases hospital and a nearby hospital without known indoor environmental concerns. We carried out observational assessment of dampness, air, chair, and floor dust sampling for biological contaminants, and investigation of exposure‐response associations for about 500 participants. Many participants with post‐hire onset asthma reported diagnosis dates in a period of water incursions and renovations. Post‐hire asthma and work‐related lower respiratory symptoms were positively associated with the dampness score. Work‐related lower respiratory symptoms showed monotonically increasing odds ratios with ergosterol, a marker of fungal biomass. Other fungal and bacterial indices, particle counts, cat allergen and latex allergen were associated with respiratory symptoms. Our data imply new‐onset of asthma in relation to water damage, and indicate that work‐related respiratory symptoms in hospital workers may be associated with diverse biological contaminants.
Asthma and respiratory symptoms in hospital workers related to dampness and biological contaminants
Abstract The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health investigated respiratory symptoms and asthma in relation to damp indoor environments in employees of two hospitals. A cluster of six work‐related asthma cases from one hospital department, whose symptoms arose during a time of significant water incursions, led us to conduct a survey of respiratory health in 1171/1834 employees working in the sentinel cases hospital and a nearby hospital without known indoor environmental concerns. We carried out observational assessment of dampness, air, chair, and floor dust sampling for biological contaminants, and investigation of exposure‐response associations for about 500 participants. Many participants with post‐hire onset asthma reported diagnosis dates in a period of water incursions and renovations. Post‐hire asthma and work‐related lower respiratory symptoms were positively associated with the dampness score. Work‐related lower respiratory symptoms showed monotonically increasing odds ratios with ergosterol, a marker of fungal biomass. Other fungal and bacterial indices, particle counts, cat allergen and latex allergen were associated with respiratory symptoms. Our data imply new‐onset of asthma in relation to water damage, and indicate that work‐related respiratory symptoms in hospital workers may be associated with diverse biological contaminants.
Asthma and respiratory symptoms in hospital workers related to dampness and biological contaminants
Cox‐Ganser, J. M. (Autor:in) / Rao, C. Y. (Autor:in) / Park, J.‐H. (Autor:in) / Schumpert, J. C. (Autor:in) / Kreiss, K. (Autor:in)
Indoor Air ; 19 ; 280-290
01.08.2009
11 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Asthma and respiratory symptoms in hospital workers related to dampness and biological contaminants
| Online Contents | 2009
| Wiley | 2004
Home Dampness and Respiratory Morbidity in Children
| NTIS | 1989