Ocular symptoms and tear film break up time (BUT) among junior high school students in Penang, Malaysia – Associations with fungal DNA in school dust

Abstract

a b s t r a c tBackground: There are few studies on ocular effects of indoor mould exposure in schools, especially in the tropics Objective: To study associations between eye symptoms and tear film break up time (BUT) in students and demographic data and fungal DNA in schools. Methods: A school environment study was performed among randomly selected students in eight randomly selected secondary schools in Penang, Malaysia. Information on eye symptoms and demographic data was collected by a standardised questionnaire. BUT was measured by two methods, self-reported BUT (SBUT) and by the non-invasive Tearscope (NIBUT). Dust was collected by vacuuming in 32 classrooms and analysed for five fungal DNA sequences. Geometric mean (GM) for total fungal DNA was 7.31*10 4 target copies per gram dust and for Aspergillus/Penicillium DNA 3.34*10 4 target copies per gram dust. Linear mixed models and 3-level multiple logistic regression were applied adjusting for demographic factors. Results: A total of 368 students (58%) participated and 17.4% reported weekly eye symptoms the last 3 months. The median SBUT and TBUT were 15 and 12 s, respectively. Students wearing glasses (OR 2.41, p = 0.01) and with a history of atopy (OR = 2.67; p = 0.008) had more eye symptoms. Girls had less eye symptoms than boys (OR = 0.34; p = 0.006) Indoor carbon dioxide in the classrooms was low (range 380-720 ppm), temperature was 25-30 • C and relative air humidity 70-88%. Total fungal DNA in vacuumed dust was associated with shorter SBUT (4 s shorter per 10 5 target copies per gram dust; p = 0.04) and NIBUT (4 s shorter per 10 5 target copies per gram dust; p < 0.001). Aspergillus/Penicillium DNA was associated with shorter NIBUT (5 s shorter per 10 5 target copies per gram dust; p = 0.01). Conclusion: Fungal contamination in schools in a tropical country can be a risk factor for impaired tear film stability among students.

The Effects of Indoor Pollutants Exposure on Allergy and Lung Inflammation: An Activation State of Neutrophils and Eosinophils in Sputum

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Understanding staff competencies and training needs of Environmental Health Professionals in Uganda: an online cross-sectional survey

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Medizinisch klinische Diagnostik bei Schimmelpilzexposition in Innenräumen – Update 2023 (AWMF-Register-Nr. 161/001)

“…Die Tränenfilmabrisszeit, die beispielsweise in einer Studie von Norbäck et al (2017) 696 eine Assoziation mit Pilz-DNA im Staub von Klassenräumen zeigt, eignet sich aufgrund vielfältiger anderer Einflussfaktoren nicht für die individuelle medizinische Diagnostik zur Objektivierung von Innenraumschimmel-assoziierten Augenbeschwerden.…”