Residential culturable fungi, (1‐3, 1‐6)‐β‐d‐glucan,and ergosterol concentrations in dust are not associated with asthma,rhinitis, or eczema diagnoses in children

Qualitative reporting of home indoor moisture problems predicts respiratory diseases. However, causal agents underlying such qualitative markers remain unknown. In the homes of 198 multiple allergic case children and 202 controls in Sweden, we cultivated culturable fungi by directly plating dust, and quantified (1‐3, 1‐6)‐β‐d ‐glucan and ergosterol in dust samples from the child's bedroom. We examined the relationship between these fungal agents and degree of parent or inspector‐reported home indoor dampness, and microbiological laboratory's mold index. We also compared the concentrations of these agents between multiple allergic cases and healthy controls, as well as IgE‐sensitization among cases. The concentrations of culturable fungal agents were comparable between houses with parent and inspector‐reported mold issues and those without. There were no differences in concentrations of the individual or the total summed culturable fungi, (1‐3, 1‐6)‐β‐d ‐glucan, and ergosterol between the controls and the multiple allergic case children, or individual diagnosis of asthma, rhinitis, or eczema. Culturable fungi, (1‐3, 1‐6)‐β‐d ‐glucan, and ergosterol in dust were not associated with qualitative markers of indoor dampness or mold or indoor humidity. Furthermore, these agents in dust samples were not associated with any health outcomes in the children.     

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

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.