CURRENT ASTHMA, RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND HYPERSENSITIVITY TO MOULDS IN PUPILS IN SHANGHAI, CHINA, IN RELATION TO MICROBIAL COMPONENTS IN THE CLASSROOMS

摘要

Thirty classrooms in 10 schools in Shanghai (China) were investigated. Dust was collected by vacuum cleaning, analysed for ergosterol, muramic acid, and 3-hydroxy fatty acids (LPS; endotoxin) by tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MSMS). Airborne microorganisms were measured by CAMNEA. The pupils received a questionnaire, 1414 participated (99%). The mean age was 13 y, 45% reported respiratory infections, 5.4% mould allergy, and 3.1% current asthma. Respiratory infections were positively associated with viable moulds in air (p=00.04), viable bacteria (p=0.02), 3-methylfuran (p=0.04), and negatively associated with LPS (p=0.01). Current asthma was positively associated with 1-octen-3-ol (p=0.047), and negatively associated with LPS (p=0.05). Mould allergy/intolerance was positively associated with total moulds (p=0.002) and muramic acid (p<0.001). Respiratory health and intolerance was associated with microbial components in the schools. LPS in settled dust seems to be protective, while muramic acid, viable bacteria, viable and total moulds, and MVOC were associated with adverse health effects.