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Associations between evaporative cooling and dust‐mite allergens, endotoxins, and β‐(1 → 3)‐ d ‐glucans in house dust: A study of low‐income homes
Author(s) -
Johnston James D.,
Cowger Ashlin E.,
Graul Robert J.,
Nash Ryan,
Tueller Josie A.,
Hendrickson Nathan R.,
Robinson Daniel R.,
Beard John D.,
Weber K. Scott
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/ina.12600
Subject(s) - evaporative cooler , indoor bioaerosol , central air conditioning , air conditioning , environmental science , phoenix , toxicology , zoology , indoor air , aerosol , food science , environmental health , environmental engineering , biology , chemistry , geography , metropolitan area , environmental chemistry , meteorology , medicine , engineering , mechanical engineering , archaeology
Recent work suggests that evaporative coolers increase the level and diversity of bioaerosols, but this association remains understudied in low‐income homes. We conducted a cross‐sectional study of metropolitan, low‐income homes in Utah with evaporative coolers (n = 20) and central air conditioners (n = 28). Dust samples (N = 147) were collected from four locations in each home and analyzed for dust‐mite allergens Der p1 and Der f1, endotoxins, and β‐(1 → 3)‐ d ‐glucans. In all sample locations combined, Der p1 or Der f1 was significantly higher in evaporative cooler versus central air conditioning homes (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.05‐4.98). Endotoxin concentration was significantly higher in evaporative cooler versus central air conditioning homes in furniture (geometric mean (GM) = 8.05 vs 2.85 EU/mg, P < .01) and all samples combined (GM = 3.60 vs 1.29 EU/mg, P = .03). β‐(1 → 3)‐ d ‐glucan concentration and surface loads were significantly higher in evaporative cooler versus central air conditioning homes in all four sample locations and all samples combined ( P < .01). Our study suggests that low‐income, evaporative cooled homes have higher levels of immunologically important bioaerosols than central air‐conditioned homes in dry climates, warranting studies on health implications and other exposed populations.