Comparison of outdoor allergenic particles and allergen levels

Barnes, Charles S.; Schreiber, Keith; Pacheco, Freddy; Landuyt, Julie; Hu, Frank B.; Portnoy, Jay M.

doi:10.1016/s1081-1206(10)62740-8

Cited by 40 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…A general correlation between elevated pollen counts and allergen activity has been demonstrated for Ambrosia [24]. In the present study, we detected grass allergen levels when grass pollen grains were visible in the collector, but there were occasions when allergen levels were high in the absence of pollen, as other authors have described for Ambrosia [2, 4](table 1).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

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<i>Trisetum paniceum</i> (Wild Oats) Pollen Counts and Aeroallergens in the Ambient Air of Madrid, Spain

Cabrera¹,

Martínez-Cócera²,

Fernández-Caldas³

et al. 2002

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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Background: Madrid has a short but intensive grass pollen season, in which 79% of the total grass pollen load is released from the middle of May to the middle of June. The main objectives of this study were to quantify Trisetum paniceum (wild oats) aeroallergen in the atmosphere in Madrid from February to December 1996 and to correlate the aeroallergen concentrations with grass pollen counts. Methods: Two different samplers were used to assess allergen exposure; a Burkard spore trap was used to collect pollen grains and a high-volume air sampler to collect airborne particles. A total of 182 air filters were collected and extracted in 1 ml of PBS and analysed by ELISA inhibition, using pooled sera from highly allergic individuals. Results:T. paniceum aeroallergens were detected not only during the grass pollen season, but also before and after. Wild oat allergens had two main peaks of 1 and 1.9 µg/m³, occurring in late May and July, respectively. The time series analysis established the existence of lags between the two main variables pollen counts and aeroallergen activity. Analysis of the data by the Spearman rank test and linear regression showed a weak correlation between grass allergenic activity and grass pollen counts (Spearman’s rho = 0.29). Data obtained from time series analysis demonstrated that grass allergenic activity correlated strongly with current and 5-week-old grass pollen grain counts (r² = 0.73). Conclusions: Wild oats allergenic activity was detected during the entire year and not only during the pollen season. This fact is an important aspect to be considered in the clinical follow-up and treatment of grass pollen-sensitised patients in Madrid.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…This assumption is based on the fact that similar allergen levels are capable of inducing symptoms [24]and because grass allergy is the most important cause of allergic respiratory symptoms in this area [5]. These levels are similar to those measured in barns or other occupational settings [13].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

<i>Trisetum paniceum</i> (Wild Oats) Pollen Counts and Aeroallergens in the Ambient Air of Madrid, Spain

Cabrera¹,

Martínez-Cócera²,

Fernández-Caldas³

et al. 2002

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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“…Allergenic fungi, including Alternaria alternata, express great variability in allergen profiles depending on the environmental conditions under which they grow. 24 , 29 For example, Barnes et al 24 observed substantial discrepancies in GP70 and Alt a1 levels over time when these two glycoproteins were measured in air samples. The life cycle of fungi can also affect the different patterns of allergen release; germination has been shown to increase allergen release from Alternaria spores.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dustborne Alternaria alternata antigens in US homes: Results from the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing

Salo

Yin²,

Arbes

et al. 2005

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

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“…Two samplers were employed for the collection of airborne trichothecene mycotoxins, namely, a SpinCon PAS 450-10 bioaerosol sampler (Sceptor Industries, Inc., Kansas City, MO) and an Andersen GPS-1 polyurethane foam (PUF) high-volume air sampler (Thermo Electron Corporation, Cheswick, PA). The SpinCon sampler has been evaluated in the outdoor environment and has been determined to be a highly effective air sampling device (3,5). From October 2001 to September 2002, the SpinCon sampler was employed for the collection of airborne Bacillus anthracis in buildings throughout the Washington, D.C., area following the well-known bioterrorism attack on that area (21).…”

Section: Materials and Methods Indoor Environments (I) Test Environmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of AirborneStachybotrys chartarumMacrocyclic Trichothecene Mycotoxins in the Indoor Environment

Brasel

Martin

Carriker

et al. 2005

Appl Environ Microbiol

115

103

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The existence of airborne mycotoxins in mold-contaminated buildings has long been hypothesized to be a potential occupant health risk. However, little work has been done to demonstrate the presence of these compounds in such environments. The presence of airborne macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins in indoor environments with known Stachybotrys chartarum contamination was therefore investigated. In seven buildings, air was collected using a high-volume liquid impaction bioaerosol sampler (SpinCon PAS 450-10) under static or disturbed conditions. An additional building was sampled using an Andersen GPS-1 PUF sampler modified to separate and collect particulates smaller than conidia. Four control buildings (i.e., no detectable S. chartarum growth or history of water damage) and outdoor air were also tested. Samples were analyzed using a macrocyclic trichothecene-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ELISA specificity was tested using phosphate-buffered saline extracts of the fungal genera Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Memnoniella, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Trichoderma, five Stachybotrys strains, and the indoor air allergens Can f 1, Der p 1, and Fel d 1. For test buildings, the results showed that detectable toxin concentrations increased with the sampling time and short periods of air disturbance. Trichothecene values ranged from <10 to >1,300 pg/m 3 of sampled air. The control environments demonstrated statistically significantly (P < 0.001) lower levels of airborne trichothecenes. ELISA specificity experiments demonstrated a high specificity for the trichothecene-producing strain of S. chartarum. Our data indicate that airborne macrocyclic trichothecenes can exist in Stachybotrys-contaminated buildings, and this should be taken into consideration in future indoor air quality investigations.For the past 25 years, there has been growing concern about the presence of fungi and their adverse human health effects in indoor environments. Several genera of fungi, including Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, and Aspergillus, have raised particular concern because of their associated toxin production. To date, the majority of indoor air quality investigations have focused on analyses of mold growth on building materials (1,18,35,40) and measurements of airborne particulate matter, including dust, fungal conidia (6, 20), and animal danders (13). These types of investigations cannot directly assess occupant exposure to mycotoxins. Exposure to these factors can influence allergic hypersensitivity responses (2, 9, 29) and symptoms of asthma in certain individuals (11, 30) but most likely does not account for often-reported symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, nose bleeds, physical and mental fatigue, and neurological disorders (28, 39) seen in subjects occupying sick buildings.Among the many fungi isolated from contaminated indoor environments, Stachybotrys chartarum is one of the most well known. S. chartarum is a known producer of a number of potent mycotoxins, in particular the macrocyclic tricho...

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Comparison of outdoor allergenic particles and allergen levels

Cited by 40 publications

References 27 publications

<i>Trisetum paniceum</i> (Wild Oats) Pollen Counts and Aeroallergens in the Ambient Air of Madrid, Spain

<i>Trisetum paniceum</i> (Wild Oats) Pollen Counts and Aeroallergens in the Ambient Air of Madrid, Spain

Dustborne Alternaria alternata antigens in US homes: Results from the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing

Detection of AirborneStachybotrys chartarumMacrocyclic Trichothecene Mycotoxins in the Indoor Environment

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