Exposure to Alternaria alternata in US homes is associated with asthma symptoms.

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Exposure to Alternaria alternata in US homes is associated with asthma

symptoms.

* _Salo PM_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pubmed\

_AbstractPlus & term= " Salo+PM " [Author]) ,

* _Arbes SJ Jr_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pubmed\

_AbstractPlus & term= " Arbes+SJ+Jr " [Author]) ,

* _Sever M_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pubmed\

_AbstractPlus & term= " Sever+M " [Author]) ,

* _Jaramillo R_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pubmed\

_AbstractPlus & term= " Jaramillo+R " [Author]) ,

* _Cohn RD_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pubmed\

_AbstractPlus & term= " Cohn+RD " [Author]) ,

* _London SJ_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pubmed\

_AbstractPlus & term= " London+SJ " [Author]) ,

* _Zeldin DC_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pubmed\

_AbstractPlus & term= " Zeldin+DC " [Author]) .

From the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National

Institutes of Health (NIH), Research Triangle Park.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to the fungus Alternaria alternata is a risk factor for

asthma. Few studies have examined Alternaria exposures in indoor

environments. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether exposure to A alternata in US homes

was

associated with asthma-related outcomes. METHODS: The data for this study were

collected as part of the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing.

This cross-sectional study surveyed a nationally representative sample of 831

housing units inhabited by 2456 individuals in 75 different locations throughout

the United States. An interviewer-administered questionnaire obtained

information on demographics, household characteristics, and occupants' health

status. Exposure to A alternata was assessed by measuring concentrations of A

alternata antigens in vacuumed dust samples using a polyclonal anti-A alternata

antibody assay. Dust samples were collected from a bed, a sofa, or a chair,

and from bedroom, living room, and kitchen floors. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence

of doctor-diagnosed asthma was 11.2%, and 6.9% of the study subjects

reported active asthma symptoms in the past 12 months. The prevalence of

current

symptomatic asthma increased with increasing Alternaria concentrations in US

homes; higher levels of A alternata antigens increased the odds of having asthma

symptoms in the past year (relative to the lowest tertile, adjusted odds

ratio was 1.52, 95% CI, 0.90-2.55 for the 2nd tertile; and 1.84, 95% CI,

1.18-2.85 for the 3rd tertile). CONCLUSION: Exposure to A alternata in US homes

is

associated with active asthma symptoms. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Measures that

reduce indoor exposure to A alternata may help control asthma exacerbations.

PMID: 17030243 [PubMed - in process]