Nasal patency and lavage biomarkers in relation to settled dust and cleaning routines in schools.
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OBJECTIVES: This study determined the relations between settled dust and cleaning routines in classrooms on one hand, and nasal symptoms, nasal cavity dimensions, and the concentration of selected biomarkers of inflammation in nasal lavage on the other. METHODS: Measurements of settled dust via standardized vacuum cleaning and an investigation of the cleaning routines were performed in 12 randomly selected primary schools in the municipality of Uppsala. Clinical examinations including acoustic rhinometry and nasal lavage were performed in the school environment among 279 school personnel working in the main buildings of the schools. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), lysozyme, and albumin were analyzed in the lavage fluid. The relationships between the medical and hygienic data were analyzed both bivariately and with a multiple regression model controlling for age, gender, smoking, atopy, room temperature, and urban vicinity of the school. RESULTS: The amount of settled dust was positively related to subjective nasal obstruction and smaller nasal cavity dimensions measured with acoustic rhinometry. The noses were less patent, and the levels of ECP or lysozyme in the lavage were increased for the subjects in schools with a lower frequency of floor mopping, a lower frequency of desk cleaning, and where wet mopping was used. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the actual dust levels in Swedish classrooms can affect the occurrence of nasal obstruction among school personnel. A beneficial effect on the clinical signs of the nasal mucosa was observed for a higher frequency of both floor mopping and desk cleaning, whereas the use of wet mopping seemed disadvantageous in comparison with dry mopping. These findings illustrate the need for adequate cleaning procedures to minimize the environmental effects on the airway mucosa. (+info)
Influence of heavy agricultural work during pregnancy on birthweight in northeast Brazil.
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BACKGROUND: Women in developing countries often continue their agricultural work during late pregnancy. Whether this adversely affects birthweight is not clear from previous studies as few controlled for confounding factors. This study seeks to clarify this issue. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study investigated 958 low-income women and their singleton newborn babies residing in a region of Northeast Brazil dependent on sugar-cane production. Women were recruited at maternity centres, when attending for delivery, and were allocated to one of two groups according to their exposure to heavy agricultural labour for at least 3 months during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (n = 250), or to household activities only (n = 708). RESULTS: The mean birthweight of infants born to women who worked in agriculture during 9 months of pregnancy was 190 g lower than that of the non-exposed group (P = 0.02). After controlling for confounding factors, the adjusted effect was 117 g (P = 0.05). Heavy agricultural work for 6, 7 or 8 months had no significant effect. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that working throughout pregnancy significantly reduces birthweight in this low-income population. (+info)
The size of airborne dust particles precipitating bronchospasm in house dust sensitive children.
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We have assessed the effect of house-cleaning procedures on changes in airborne dust and bacteria counts and correlated these with respiratory function tests in 14 children with bronchial asthma who were known to have developed attacks at home, and who had positive skin tests to house dust and the house-dust mite. We have demonstrated that after cleaning procedures a positive and statistically significant correlation exists between the increase in the numbers of small particles, 2 mum. and less in diameter, in the environment, and reduction in mean peak flow. This indicates that particles of this size penetrate the bronchial tree and are the causative factor in the genesis of bronchospasm. (+info)
Poison exposure in children before Passover.
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BACKGROUND: Extensive cleaning of homes in Israel before Passover may result in increased exposure of children to cleaning substances. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the potential danger of Passover cleaning to children, and to study the risk factors in order to identify areas for prevention. METHODS: All cases of poison exposure in Jewish and Arab children under the age of 15 years reported to the Israel Poison Information Center during 1990-95 (n = 5,583) were analyzed for the 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after Passover. Poison exposures in Jewish children < 15 years old were studied in seven pediatric emergency rooms for the 2 weeks before and 6 weeks after Passover (n = 123). RESULTS: The IPIC data showed a highly significant 38% increase in the average weekly poison exposure rate for the 2 weeks before Passover compared with the remaining 10 weeks. Data recorded by the pediatric emergency rooms showed a twofold increase in cleaning substance poisoning during the 2 weeks before Passover compared with the following 6 weeks. The rise in exposures to cleaning substances was observed among children from secular, religious and ultra-orthodox families. In these exposures, the substance was found in open containers in 70% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The extensive cleaning of homes among Jewish families in preparation for Passover poses the danger to young children of cleaning substance poisoning. Increasing public awareness, closer observation of children, and keeping these substances in closed containers should increase children's safety during this annual cleaning. (+info)
Beta(1-->3)-glucan in house dust of German homes: housing characteristics, occupant behavior, and relations with endotoxins, allergens, and molds.
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beta(1-->3)-Glucans are potent proinflammatory agents that have been suggested to play a role in indoor-related respiratory health effects. The aim of this study was to assess whether beta(1-->3)-glucan concentrations in house dust are correlated with levels of endotoxins, allergens, and culturable mold spore counts in house dust. Further, the associations of beta(1-->3)-glucan with housing characteristics and occupant behavior were assessed. beta(1-->3)-Glucan was measured in settled house dust from living room floors of 395 homes of two German cities, Erfurt and Hamburg, with a specific enzyme immunoassay. Concentrations ranged from below the limit of detection to 19,013 microg/m(2) (22,588 microg/g dust). Concentrations per square meter were found to be correlated with endotoxins, mite and cat allergens, and culturable mold spores. Correlations were weaker when concentrations were expressed per gram of dust, indicating that variance in concentrations of all factors is largely determined by the amount of dust sampled. Associations between beta(1-->3)-glucan, housing characteristics, and occupant behavior were found for concentrations per square meter but not for concentrations per gram of dust. The following characteristics were associated with a significant increase in beta(1-->3)-glucan levels: carpets in the living room [means ratio (MR) = 1.9-2.1], keeping a dog inside (MR = 1.4), use of the home by four or more persons (MR = 1.4), use of the living room for > 180 hr/week (MR = 2.1), lower frequency of vacuum cleaning (MR = 1.6-3.0) and dust cleaning (MR = 1.2 and 1.4, respectively), and presence of mold spots during the past 12 months (MR = 1.4). We conclude that that the amount of dust sampled can be used as a proxy for hygiene and that beta(1-->3)-glucan concentrations per square meter are related to the amount of dust sampled. (+info)
Motives underlying food choice: dentists, porters and dietary health promotion.
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OBJECTIVE: Differences in dental decay and disease amongst socioeconomic groups are thought to derive, in part, from variations in dietary practices and differences in education. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine whether differences in motivating factors affecting food choice could be found in a comparison of two groups at very different ends of the social spectrum: dentists and porters/cleaners. DESIGN: A convenience sample of 100 people (51 porters/cleaners and 49 dentists) working in the dental school at a university in the North West of England were approached to interview face-to-face and complete the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ), a previously validated measure designed to assess nine main factors relevant to peoples' food choices. A sample size of 100 was chosen because it was adequate to test validity (using a two-group Chi-square test with a 0.050 two sided significance). RESULTS: Findings were analysed using independent sample t-test and multiple linear regression. Results indicated significant differences between porters/cleaners and dentists in terms of their motives for food choice on six of the nine FCQ factors. These included convenience (p < 0.001), natural content (p < 0.05), price (p < 0.005), familiarity (p < .0001), mood (p < 0.03) and ethical concern (p < 0.01). Porters/cleaners tended to rate the factors covenience, price, mood and familiarity more highly, whereas dentists did the same for natural content and ethical concern. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of the differences in motivational factors affecting food choice between different social groups is important to dental practitioners who are being taught to play an increasing role in health promotion. If dental practitioners are to partake meaningfully in such a role, it is necessary for them to be aware not only of their own motives in food selection, but also of the way in which those motives may differ from those of their clients. (+info)
Effects of physical interventions on house dust mite allergen levels in carpet, bed, and upholstery dust in low-income, urban homes.
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House dust mite allergen exposure is a postulated risk factor for allergic sensitization, asthma development, and asthma morbidity; however, practical and effective methods to mitigate these allergens from low-income, urban home environments remain elusive. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of physical interventions to mitigate house dust mite allergens in this setting. Homes with high levels of house dust mite allergen (Der f 1 + Der p 1 > or = 10 microg/g dust by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in the bed, bedroom carpet, and/or upholstered furniture were enrolled in the study. Carpets and upholstered furniture were subjected to a single treatment of either dry steam cleaning plus vacuuming (carpet only) or intensive vacuuming alone. Bed interventions consisted of complete encasement of the mattress, box spring, and pillows plus either weekly professional or in-home laundering of nonencased bedding. Dust samples were collected at baseline and again at 3 days (carpet and upholstery only) and 2, 4, and 8 weeks posttreatment. We compared pretreatment mean allergen concentrations and loads to posttreatment values and performed between-group analyses after adjusting for differences in the pretreatment means. Both dry steam cleaning plus vacuuming and vacuuming alone resulted in a significant reduction in carpet house dust mite allergen concentration and load (p < 0.05). Levels approached pretreatment values by 4 weeks posttreatment in the intensive vacuuming group, whereas steam cleaning plus vacuuming effected a decrease that persisted for up to 8 weeks. Significant decreases in bed house dust mite allergen concentration and load were obtained in response to encasement and either professional or in-home laundering (p < 0.001). Between-group analysis revealed significantly less postintervention house dust mite allergen load in professionally laundered compared to home-laundered beds (p < 0.05). Intensive vacuuming and dry steam cleaning both caused a significant reduction in allergen concentration and load in upholstered furniture samples (p < 0.005). Based on these data, we conclude that physical interventions offer practical, effective means of reducing house dust mite allergen levels in low-income, urban home environments. (+info)
Carpal tunnel syndrome: a retrospective analysis of 262 cases and a one to one matched case-control study of 61 women pairs in relationship between manual housework and carpal tunnel syndrome.
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OBJECTIVES: To get a more comprehensive recognition about carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), especially the manual housework as its risk factor, and to facilitate early diagnosis and proper treatment. METHODS: 262 CTS patients (396 CTS hands) were analyzed retrospectively. A 1:1 matched case-control study of 61 woman pairs in relationship between manual housework and the occurrence of CTS was carried out. RESULTS: In 262 CTS patients, 84% were female, and the dominant hand was more frequently affected; repetitive and forceful movement of the hand and wrist might be associated with CTS. Typical clinical manifestations include pain and paresthesia in the median nerve territory, but 75.3% of our 396 CTS hands had all five digits involved. Conduction abnormalities appeared selectively in the median nerve distal to the wrist. In the case-control study, for manual washing, rolling or kneading dough, and knitting woolen sweater, the odds ratios (OR) of CTS between high and low intensities were 3.86 (95% confidence interval 1.79-8.33, chi 2 = 11.76, P < 0.01), 6.25 (95% confidence interval 2.50-15.63, chi 2 = 15.21, P < 0.01) and 1.13 (95% confidence interval 0.57-2.22, chi 2 = 0.125, P > 0.05) respectively; and those between long and short duration (i.e. the number of years engaging in these manual housework) were 2.33 (95% confidence interval 0.63-8.64, chi 2 = 1.6, P > 0.05), 1.88 (95% confidence interval 0.81-4.38, chi 2 = 2.13, P > 0.05) and 1 (chi 2 = 0, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of CTS requires confirmation of illness history, symptoms and signs with objective electrodiagnostic tests. Manual washing and rolling or kneading dough might be associated with the onset of CTS. (+info)