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Streptomycetes in house dust: associations with housing characteristics and endotoxin
Abstract In addition to mold, indoor bioaerosols also contain bacterial components that may have implications for human health. Endotoxin is a cell wall component in Gram‐negative bacteria present at varying levels indoors that has been found to have respiratory health implications. Streptomyces is a large genus of Gram‐positive bacteria, and some species have been shown to produce inflammatory reactions in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of streptomycetes levels in house dust and to compare the variation in streptomycetes levels with that in endotoxin levels. Dust was collected by floor vacuuming from 178 homes in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Streptomycetes levels were measured by quantitative PCR, and endotoxin was assayed by the Limulus amebocyte lysate method. Associations between home characteristics and bacterial contaminants, expressed as concentration and load, were investigated through multiple regression analyses. The presence of two or more dogs was a strong predictor of both streptomycetes and endotoxin levels. Season of dust collection and levels of outdoor molds were predictors of streptomycetes but not endotoxin levels. In contrast, number of inhabitants was a significant predictor of endotoxin load only. Neither streptomycetes nor endotoxin levels were associated with metrics of moisture damage. This study adds to the understanding of the sources of bacterial contaminant in indoor environments. The results suggest that streptomycetes have mostly outdoor sources, whereas indoor sources are more important for endotoxin. The results also indicate that the presence of pets, particularly two or more dogs, is a strong source of bacterial contamination. In this study, neither streptomycetes nor endotoxin levels were significantly associated with metrics for moisture damage. Both endotoxin and streptomycetes levels may represent too large and diverse bacterial taxa to be consistent indicators of indoor moisture damage.
Streptomycetes in house dust: associations with housing characteristics and endotoxin
Abstract In addition to mold, indoor bioaerosols also contain bacterial components that may have implications for human health. Endotoxin is a cell wall component in Gram‐negative bacteria present at varying levels indoors that has been found to have respiratory health implications. Streptomyces is a large genus of Gram‐positive bacteria, and some species have been shown to produce inflammatory reactions in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of streptomycetes levels in house dust and to compare the variation in streptomycetes levels with that in endotoxin levels. Dust was collected by floor vacuuming from 178 homes in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Streptomycetes levels were measured by quantitative PCR, and endotoxin was assayed by the Limulus amebocyte lysate method. Associations between home characteristics and bacterial contaminants, expressed as concentration and load, were investigated through multiple regression analyses. The presence of two or more dogs was a strong predictor of both streptomycetes and endotoxin levels. Season of dust collection and levels of outdoor molds were predictors of streptomycetes but not endotoxin levels. In contrast, number of inhabitants was a significant predictor of endotoxin load only. Neither streptomycetes nor endotoxin levels were associated with metrics of moisture damage. This study adds to the understanding of the sources of bacterial contaminant in indoor environments. The results suggest that streptomycetes have mostly outdoor sources, whereas indoor sources are more important for endotoxin. The results also indicate that the presence of pets, particularly two or more dogs, is a strong source of bacterial contamination. In this study, neither streptomycetes nor endotoxin levels were significantly associated with metrics for moisture damage. Both endotoxin and streptomycetes levels may represent too large and diverse bacterial taxa to be consistent indicators of indoor moisture damage.
Streptomycetes in house dust: associations with housing characteristics and endotoxin
Johansson, E. (author) / Vesper, S. (author) / Levin, L. (author) / LeMasters, G. (author) / Grinshpun, S. (author) / Reponen, T. (author)
Indoor Air ; 21 ; 300-310
2011-08-01
11 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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