Indoor mold levels and current asthma among school‐aged children in Saskatchewan,Canada |
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| Authors: | O Oluwole S P Kirychuk J A Lawson C Karunanayake D W Cockcroft P J Willson A Senthilselvan D C Rennie |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada;2. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada;3. Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada;4. School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada;5. College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Current knowledge regarding the association between indoor mold exposures and asthma is still limited. The objective of this case–control study was to investigate the relationship between objectively measured indoor mold levels and current asthma among school‐aged children. Parents completed a questionnaire survey of health history and home environmental conditions. Asthma cases had a history of doctor‐diagnosed asthma or current wheeze without a cold in the past 12 months. Controls were age‐ and sex‐matched to cases. Vacuumed dust samples were collected from the child's indoor play area and mattress. Samples were assessed for mold levels and quantified in colony‐forming units (CFU). Sensitization to mold allergens was also determined by skin testing. Being a case was associated with family history of asthma, pet ownership, and mold allergy. Mold levels (CFU/m2) in the dust samples of children's mattress and play area floors were moderately correlated (r = 0.56; P < 0.05). High mold levels (≥30 000 CFU/m2) in dust samples from play adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.03–6.43] and mattress (aOR) = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.11–8.00) areas were significantly associated with current asthma. In this study high levels of mold are a risk factor for asthma in children. |
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| Keywords: | Asthma Children Fungal loads Mold Atopy Case– control study |
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