Examination of fungi in domestic interiors by using factor analysis: Correlations and associations with home factors. [Cladosporium, Alternaria, Epicoccum, Aureobasidium, Aspergillus; Penicillium]

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5551206

Su, H J; Rotnitzky, A; Spengler, J D ^[1]; Burge, H A ^[2]

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1. Harvard Univ., Boston, MA (United States)
2. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor (United States)

Factor analysis was utilized to investigate correlations among airborne microorganisms collected with Andersen samplers from homes in Topeka, Kans., during the winter of 1987 to 1988. The factors derived were used to relate microbial concentrations with categorical, questionnaire-derived descriptions of housing conditions. This approach successfully identified groups of common aboveground decay fungi including Cladosporium, Alternaria, Epicoccum, and Aureobasidium spp. The common soil fungi Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. were also separated as a group. These previously known ecological groupings were confirmed with air sampling data by a quantitative evaluation technique. The above ground decay fungi sampled indoors in winter were present at relatively high concentrations in homes with gas stoves for cooking, suggesting a possible association between these fungi and increased humidity from the combustion process. Elevated concentrations of the soil fungi were significantly associated with the dirt floor, crawl-space type of basement. Elevated concentrations of water-requiring fungi, such as Fusarium spp., were shown to be associated with water collection in domestic interiors. Also, elevated mean concentrations for the group of fungi including Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Aureobasidium, and yeast spp. were found to be associated with symptoms reported on a health questionnaire. This finding was consistent with the authors previous study of associations between respiratory health and airborne microorganisms by univariate logistic regression analysis.

• OSTI ID: 5551206
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Vol. 58:1; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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03 NATURAL GAS
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CORRELATIONS
DATA ANALYSIS
HOUSES
HUMIDITY
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
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RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
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FOSSIL FUELS
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RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
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