Survey of 1012 moldy dwellings by culture fungal analysis: Threshold proposal for asthmatic patient management

Different countries have tried to define guidelines to quantify what levels of fungi are considered as inappropriate for housing. This retrospective study analyzes indoor fungi by cultures of airborne samples from 1012 dwellings. Altogether, 908 patients suffering from rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma were compared to 104 controls free of allergies. Portuguese decree law no 118/2013 (PDL118), ANSES (a French environmental and health agency) recommendations, and health regulations of Besançon University Hospital were applied to determine the rates of non‐conforming dwellings, which were respectively 55.2%, 5.2%, and 19%. Environmental microbiological results and medical data were compared. The whole number of colonies per cubic meter of air was correlated with asthma (P < 0.001) and rhinitis (P = 0.002). Sixty‐seven genera and species were detected in bedrooms. Asthma was correlated to Aspergillus versicolor (P = 0.004) and Cladosporium spp. (P = 0.02). Thresholds of 300 cfu/m³ for A. versicolor or 495 cfu/m³ for Cladosporium spp. are able to discriminate 90% of the asthmatic dwellings. We propose a new protocol to obtain an optimal cost for indoor fungi surveys, excluding surface analyses, and a new guideline to interpret the results based on >1000 cfu/m³ of whole colonies and/or above threshold levels for A. versicolor or Cladosporium spp.     

International Perspectives on Substantiating the Efficacy of Herbal Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicines Through Evidence on Traditional Use

The efficacy of botanicals in medicines can be substantiated with evidence on traditional use, whereas in foodstuffs, this is often not possible. In Europe, for example, the evaluation and subsequent authorization of health claims on herbal dietary supplements (HDS) have been put on hold by the European Commission. This study aims to analyze the role of evidence on traditional use in international legal frameworks of foods and pharmaceuticals. Both legal sources as well as scientific studies offering insights into these regulatory frameworks were included into the analysis. The international approach toward evidence on traditional use for substantiating efficacy of botanicals varies highly. For herbal medicines, substantiating efficacy with evidence on traditional use is possible in all studied jurisdictions, except for Japan and the United States. HDS efficacy can only be substantiated with evidence on traditional use in India and New Zealand, although the enforcing authorities do not describe which data are required. Australia and Canada regulate botanicals in a separate “borderline” category from foods and pharmaceuticals. Both jurisdictions allow for substantiating efficacy with evidence on traditional use. This study's second objective was to assess the applicability of the international approaches in the European legal framework, in light of the ongoing political debate regarding the use of traditional evidence. Implementation of the analyzed international approaches would require major revisions of the current European legal framework. This review of international approaches might, however, aid in deciding upon future approaches for substantiating health claims with evidence on traditional use.     

风险矩阵法在A水泥工厂风险分级的应用初探

本文介绍“风险矩阵法”进行风险分级工作的基本思路，结合水泥厂的生产特点通过危险有害因素辨识，获得危险源分布情况，采用风险矩阵法对风险进行评估，按风险值将风险等级划分为重大风险、较大风险、一般风险和低风险，为水泥生产企业的安全风险分级工作提供参考。     

Development of an injury prevention model for playing-related musculoskeletal disorders in orchestra musicians based on predisposing risk factors

IntroductionPlaying an instrument could lead to various disorders and several musicians report problems during their career. As there is no existing one, the aim of this study was to build a comprehensive model of injury prevention and risk factors in musicians by combining literature with interviews of musicians and experts.MethodsThe initial model has been based on literature. This model identified nine categories of risk factors. Then, interviews were conducted with 15 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra musicians and 9 experts in musicians’ health to develop the final version.ResultsEighty percent of the RLPO instrumentalists experienced at least once PRMDs in their career. Postural and workload issues were mentioned most frequently. Experts agreed broadly with the initial model and added interesting items that should be taken into account in assessing musicians’ health.DiscussionThis theoretical framework provides perspectives in terms of assessment, treatment and prevention in musicians, whether they are currently suffering from PRMDs or not.     

VR-Electricians: Immersive storytelling for attracting students to the electrical construction industry

Although it is projected to have significant employment growth in the electrical construction industry, there are not enough young people to join the workforce. It is indispensable for the future of work in construction to explore emerging technologies and effectively attract the younger generation to the construction industry. This paper explores the innovative use of 360-degree immersive environments powered by virtual electricians to tell success stories of the electrical construction trades on the field (VR-Electricians) and understand how such an immersive storytelling approach can attract young people to join the industry. A pretest-posttest design was used for the VR-Electricians assessment. VR-Electricians was found to significantly enhance several aspects of students’ attitude towards the electrical construction industry. VR-Electricians was also rated as a highly usable and easy-to-use system. The outcomes of this study provide construction researchers and practitioners an understanding of how immersive storytelling can be used as a powerful technology-mediated method for attracting students to their field.     

Evaluating the effect of building construction periods on household dampness/mold and childhood diseases corresponding to different energy efficiency design requirements

Despite concerns about building dampness and children’ health, few studies have examined the effects of building energy efficiency standards. This study explored the connections between self-reported household dampness and children’ adverse health outcomes across buildings corresponding to construction periods (pre-2001, 2001-2010, post-2010). Significant differences of dampness-related indicators were found between buildings; the prevalence was remarkable in pre-2001 buildings. The prevalence of lifetime-ever doctor-diagnosed diseases for children was significantly associated with building dampness (adjust odd ratios > 1), but was not affected by construction periods. The hygrothermal performance for a typical residence was simulated, varying in U-values of envelopes and air change rates. The simulated performance improvement increased indoor temperatures in 2001-2010 and post-2010 buildings. The frequency with higher indoor relative humidity was higher in pre-2001 buildings, leading to the highest values for maximum mold index (M_max) on wall surface, especially in winter. Compared to buildings in 2001-2010, increased insulation and lower air change rate led to a relatively higher relative humidity in post-2010 buildings, adversely increasing the M_max values. The findings addressed the positive and negative role of building standard development, which help suggesting appropriate environmental and design solutions to trade-off energy savings and dampness/mold risk in residences.     

Indoor air quality and the associated health risk in primary school buildings in Central Europe – The InAirQ study

The indoor air quality (IAQ) was investigated in sixty-four primary school buildings in five Central European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Slovenia). The concentration of volatile organic compounds, aldehydes, PM_2.5 mass, carbon dioxide, radon, as well as physical parameters were investigated during the heating period of 2017/2018. Significant differences were identified for the majority of the investigated IAQ parameters across the countries. The median indoor/outdoor ratios varied considerably. A comprehensive evaluation of IAQ in terms of potential health effects and comfort perception was performed. Hazard quotient values were below the threshold value of 1 with one exception. In contrast, 31% of the school buildings were characterized by hazard index values higher than 1. The maximum cumulative ratio approach highlighted that the concern for non-carcinogenic health effects was either low or the health risk was driven by more substances. The median excess lifetime cancer risk values exceeded the acceptable value of 1 × 10⁻⁶ in the case of radon and formaldehyde. PM_2.5 mass concentration values exceeded the 24 h and annual guideline values set by the World Health Organization in 56 and 85% of the cases, respectively. About 80% of the schools could not manage to comply with the recommended concentration value for carbon dioxide (1000 ppm).