Mold and Other Allergen Concentrations in the Homes of Children with Asthma after Hurricane Katrina in the Head-Off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL) Study

摘要

The city of New Orleans, LA was severely impacted by flooding and wind damage following landfall of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Thousands of homes were water-damaged resulting in the rapid growth of microbial agents. In response to mold exposure and health effects concerns, we evaluated mold and other allergen exposures and asthma morbidity in Post- Katrina New Orleans children from the Head-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana Study (HEAL). The children (N=182) were aged 4-12 years, had moderate-to-severe asthma, and underwent clinical evaluations to determine asthma morbidity. From March 2007 to April 2009, dust was collected from the children's bedrooms at baseline, 6- and 12- months and evaluated for dust mite, cockroach, mouse, and Alternaria by immunoassay. Air samples were collected from indoors and outdoors of their homes and evaluated for mold spore concentrations. Overall, average fungal concentrations at baseline were 501 spores/m3 for indoor and 3958 spores/m3 for outdoor air samples. The 5 most common indoor air fungi were Basidiospores Cladosporium, Ascospores, Penicillium-Aspergillus, and Curvularia. Indoor air mold levels were 627 for flooded versus 438 spores/m3 for non-flooded homes (p =0.07). Percent allergen levels detected in dust were: Alternaria (98%), mouse (60%), dust mite (35%) and cockroach (20%). In conclusion, the results indicate non-mold allergens were at low levels compared to other studies within and without the region; however, airborne levels of indoor mold tended to be higher in flood-damaged homes.