Re: Airborne mold spores increase kids' risk for multiple allergies

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[] Airborne mold spores increase kids' risk for multiple

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University of Cincinnati

Airborne mold spores increase kids' risk for multiple allergies

EurekAlert (press release) - Washington,DC

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-06/uoc-ams061306.php

CINCINNATI--University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers say exposure

to a certain group of fungal spores--abundant in the air that we

breathe every day--can make young children more susceptible to

developing multiple allergies later in life.

The team found that infants who were exposed to basidiospores and

other airborne fungal spores--specifically penicillium/aspergillus

and alternaria--early in life were more likely to develop allergies

to mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander and certain foods as they

grew older.

This is the first study to show a relationship between specific

airborne fungal spores and an increased risk for multiple allergies

in children, the UC team reports in an upcoming edition of Pediatric

Allergy and Immunology and an early online edition June 14.

A fungus is a plantlike organism that grows by releasing tiny

reproductive cells (spores) into the air. Mold is a type of fungus

that can grow on any moist surface--including wood, drywall and

cement.

Previous allergy studies focused on visible mold or total mold

concentrations, not the identification of specific airborne fungal

spores. The UC-led study showed that exposure to specific airborne

fungal spores may increase allergic reactions and others could help

reduce them.

These findings reinforce the idea that not all fungi are created

equal, says Tiina Reponen, PhD, professor of environmental health at

UC and corresponding author on the study.

" It turns out that the health effects of airborne fungal spores are

more complicated than we thought, " she says. " It's not enough to

look just at total mold in our homes and offices. We need to

understand how specific types of mold interact with each other in

the environment to affect our respiratory health. Some fungi can

have harmful effects on the body, but others may be beneficial. "

" There are literally thousands of different types of mold in the air

we breathe, " adds Osborne, a graduate of UC's environmental

and occupational hygiene program and study lead author. " But because

mold exists naturally in the outdoors, it's very difficult to

completely remove mold spores from the air. "

Osborne conducted this research while pursuing her master's at UC

and is currently employed as an environmental consultant at Quantus

Analytical, a mold and allergen laboratory and consulting group in

Cincinnati.

Using a small air sampling device, the UC research team collected

fungal spores from the homes of 144 infants enrolled in the

Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS).

The CCAAPS, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health

Sciences, is a five-year study examining the effects of

environmental particulates on childhood respiratory health and

allergy development.

Air samples were collected for a total of 48 hours in the child's

primary activity room and in the child's bedroom during sleep.

Samples were analyzed for both total and individual spore counts.

" We found that, at least in children, some fungi may cause allergic

sensitization while other fungal types may actually inhibit the

development of allergies, " explains Osborne.

" But very little is known about how infant allergies to

environmental allergens develop, " she adds, " and more research is

needed before we will fully understand the impact of fungi as an

allergen in infants. "

If mold is found in the home, the UC team recommends following the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-accepted guidelines for

removing it. They also say any moisture issues, such as roof or

plumbing leaks, should be resolved immediately to avoid mold

development. Additional information on household mold issues can be

found at www.epa.gov/moldresources.html.

###

Collaborators in this study include UC's Atin Adhikari, PhD, Sergey

Grinshpun, PhD, Levin, PhD, Bernstein, MD, and Grace

LeMasters, PhD, principal investigator of the CCAAPS and Seung-Hyun

Cho, PhD, of the EPA.