Airborne molds and bacteria, microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC), plasticizers and formaldehyde in dwellings in three North European cities in relation to sick building syndrome (SBS).

• Published in: Science of The Total Environment
• Main Authors: Sahlberg, Bo, Gunnbjörnsdottir, Maria, Soon, Argo, Jogi, Rain, Gislason, Thorarinn, Wieslander, Gunilla, Janson, Christer, Norback, Dan
• Other Authors: Uppsala Univ, Dept Med Sci Occupat & Environm Med, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden Uppsala Univ, Dept Med Sci Resp Med & Allergol, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden Univ Tartu, Dept Publ Hlth, EE-50090 Tartu, Estonia Archimedes Fdn, Res & Cooperat Ctr, Tartu, Estonia Fdn Tartu Univ Clin, Lung Clin, Tartu, Estonia Univ Iceland, Fac Med, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Science 2014
• Subjects: Adult; Air Microbiology; Air Pollution; Indoor; Cities; Estonia; Female; Formaldehyde; Fungi; Furans; Glycols; Humans; Iceland; Male; Methyl n-Butyl Ketone; Octanols; Plasticizers; Sick Building Syndrome; Sweden; Volatile Organic Compounds; Young Adult
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/317140; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.10.114

To access publisher's full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field. There are few studies on associations between airborne microbial exposure, formaldehyde, plasticizers in dwellings and the symptoms compatible with the sick building syndrome (SBS). As a follow-up of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS II), indoor measurements were performed in homes in three North European cities. The aim was to examine whether volatile organic compounds of possible microbial origin (MVOCs), and airborne levels of bacteria, molds, formaldehyde, and two plasticizers in dwellings were associated with the prevalence of SBS, and to study associations between MVOCs and reports on dampness and mold. The study included homes from three centers included in ECRHS II. A total of 159 adults (57% females) participated (19% from Reykjavik, 40% from Uppsala, and 41% from Tartu). A random sample and additional homes with a history of dampness were included. Exposure measurements were performed in the 159 homes of the participants. MVOCs were analyzed by GCMS with selective ion monitoring (SIM). Symptoms were reported in a standardized questionnaire. Associations were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. In total 30.8% reported any SBS (20% mucosal, 10% general, and 8% dermal symptoms) and 41% of the homes had a history of dampness and molds There were positive associations between any SBS and levels of 2-pentanol (P=0.002), 2-hexanone (P=0.0002), 2-pentylfuran (P=0.009), 1-octen-3-ol (P=0.002), formaldehyde (P=0.05), and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate (Texanol) (P=0.05). 1-octen-3-ol (P=0.009) and 3-methylfuran (P=0.002) were associated with mucosal symptoms. In dwellings with dampness and molds, the levels of total bacteria (P=0.02), total mold (P=0.04), viable mold (P=0.02), 3-methylfuran (P=0.008) and ethyl-isobutyrate (P=0.02) were higher. In conclusion, some MVOCs like 1-octen-3-ol, formaldehyde and the plasticizer Texanol, may be a risk factor for ...