PMID- 18208465 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20090515 LR - 20081216 IS - 1399-3038 (Electronic) IS - 0905-6157 (Linking) VI - 19 IP - 8 DP - 2008 Dec TI - Determinants of indoor allergens in tropical child care centers. PG - 746-55 LID - 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2007.00714.x [doi] AB - Limited data are available about indoor allergen determinants in child care centers (CCCs) especially in the tropics. This information is important epidemiologically and clinically considering many children attend CCCs. The purpose of this study was to determine the allergen concentrations in CCCs and their associations with CCC characteristics and indoor air quality (IAQ). A panel of indoor allergens including Der p 1, Blo t 5, Fel d 1, Can f 1, Mus m 1, Bla g 1 and Asp f 1 were evaluated from dusts vacuumed from classroom floors of CCCs. Allergen levels were assayed with antibody-based bioplex array or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Indoor temperature, relative humidity and air exchange rates were measured and CCC characteristics inspected. Allergen levels were linearly regressed with CCC characteristics and IAQ. The dominant allergens found in classroom floors were Der p 1, Blo t 5 and Fel d 1. Lower indoor temperatures were associated with higher Der p 1 while lower ventilation rates were associated with higher Blo t 5 concentrations. Prevalence of cat owners was found to be a predictor for Fel d 1 concentrations. Full or partial carpeting is associated with higher dust mite allergen levels. These findings provide information for future indoor allergen exposure assessment studies in CCCs and can be used for intervention with regard to allergen avoidance. FAU - Zuraimi, Mohamed Sultan AU - Zuraimi MS AD - Department of Building, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, Singapore. bdgzms@nus.edu.sg FAU - Ong, Tan Ching AU - Ong TC FAU - Tham, Kwok Wai AU - Tham KW FAU - Chew, Fook Tim AU - Chew FT LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't DEP - 20080112 PL - England TA - Pediatr Allergy Immunol JT - Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology JID - 9106718 RN - 0 (Allergens) RN - 0 (Dust) SB - IM MH - Allergens/*analysis/immunology MH - Child MH - *Child Day Care Centers MH - Dust/*analysis/immunology MH - Floors and Floorcoverings MH - Humans MH - Humidity MH - Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology MH - Singapore MH - Temperature MH - *Tropical Climate MH - Ventilation EDAT- 2008/01/23 09:00 MHDA- 2009/05/16 09:00 CRDT- 2008/01/23 09:00 PHST- 2008/01/23 09:00 [entrez] PHST- 2008/01/23 09:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2009/05/16 09:00 [medline] AID - PAI714 [pii] AID - 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2007.00714.x [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2008 Dec;19(8):746-55. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2007.00714.x. Epub 2008 Jan 12.