Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Assessment of the Environmental Conditions in Patient's Houses with Allergy by Use of a Fungal Index - A Case Study

곰팡이 센서(Fungal detector)를 이용한 알러지 환자 가정의 실내 환경 평가 - 사례연구

  • Lee, Jun-Hyup (Department of Healthcare Management, College of Health Science, Korea University) ;
  • Kim, Young-Hwan (Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Science, Korea University) ;
  • Moon, Kyong-Whan (Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Science, Korea University)
  • 이준협 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 보건행정학과) ;
  • 김영환 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 환경보건학과) ;
  • 문경환 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 환경보건학과)
  • Received : 2010.01.28
  • Accepted : 2010.02.23
  • Published : 2010.02.28
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Abstract

The indoor environmental condition was assessed in houses with allergy (asthma and atopy) patients by use of a fungal detector. The fungal index was calculated from the growth rate of the sensor fungi in a fungal detector encapsulating the spores, Alternaria alternata S-78, Eurotium herbariorum J-183 and Aspergillus penicillioides K-712. Fungal indices were higher in asthma patient's houses than in control houses and Eurotium herbariorum showed the highest growth response among the sensor fungi. Dust mites allergen, Der f1, was also significantly high in allergy patient's houses where fungal indices above 10 were detected. A correlation was observed between the fungal indices and dust mite allergen proliferations in examined houses. Therefore, the fungal index can be a useful tool as an indirect indication for detecting chronic dampness that brings both contaminations by fungi and dust mite.

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References

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