177 research outputs found
Reported ventilation during cooking modifies the association of gas cooking with respiratory symptoms
No full textAgreement in reporting childhood pets in adults interviewed twice 8 years apart. Results from the ECRHS I and II
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Geographical variation and the determinants of domestic endotoxin levels in mattress dust in Europe
No full textUNLABELLED: Endotoxin exposures have manifold effects on human health. The geographical variation and determinants of domestic endotoxin levels in Europe have not yet been extensively described. To investigate the geographical variation and determinants of domestic endotoxin concentrations in mattress dust in Europe using data collected in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey follow-up (ECRHS II). Endotoxin levels were measured in mattress dust from 974 ECRHS II participants from 22 study centers using an immunoassay. Information on demographic, lifestyle, and housing characteristics of the participants was obtained in face-to-face interviews. The median endotoxin concentration in mattress dust ranged from 772 endotoxin units per gram (EU/g) dust in Reykjavik, Iceland, to 4806 EU/g in Turin, Italy. High average outdoor summer temperature of study center, cat or dog keeping, a high household crowding index, and visible damp patches in the bedroom were significantly associated with a higher endotoxin concentrations in mattress dust. There is a large variability in domestic endotoxin levels across Europe. Average outdoor summer temperature of study center, which explains only 10% of the variation in domestic endotoxin level by center, is the strongest meteorological determinant. The observed variation needs to be taken into account when evaluating the health effects of endotoxin exposures in international contexts. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The incoherent observations of the health effects of endotoxin may be partly owing to the geographical heterogeneity of endotoxin exposure. Therefore, the observed variation should be considered in further studies. Measurements of indoor endotoxin are recommended as an indicator for the level of exposures of individual domestic environments
School air quality related to dry cough, rhinitis and nasal patency in children
No full textControls for indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools are not usually performed throughout Europe. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of IAQ on respiratory health of schoolchildren living in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, France and Italy. In the cross-sectional European Union-funded HESE (Health Effects of School Environment) Study, particulate matter with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 10 microm (PM(10)) and CO(2) levels in a day of normal activity (full classroom) were related to wheezing, dry cough at night and rhinitis in 654 children (10 yrs) and to acoustic rhinometry in 193 children. Schoolchildren exposed to PM(10) >50 microg x m( -3) and CO(2) >1,000 ppm (standards for good IAQ) were 78% and 66%, respectively. All disorders were more prevalent in children from poorly ventilated classrooms. Schoolchildren exposed to CO(2) levels >1,000 ppm showed a significantly higher risk for dry cough (OR 2.99, 95% CI 1.65-5.44) and rhinitis (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.14-3.73). By two-level (child, classroom) hierarchical analyses, CO(2) was significantly associated with dry cough (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00-1.13 per 100 ppm increment) and rhinitis (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00-1.11). Nasal patency was significantly lower in schoolchildren exposed to PM( 10) >50 microg x m(-3) than in those exposed to lower levels. A poor IAQ is frequent in European classrooms; it is related to respiratory disturbances and affects nasal patency
Strategic R&D location in European manufacturing industries.
No full textWe develop and empirically test a model of foreign R&D investments that takes into account strategic interaction in R&D location decisions by multinational firms in the context of R&D spillovers and foreign technology sourcing strategies. In a two-country, two-firm model with cross investments, the optimal share of R&D performed abroad depends on the efficiency of intra-firm international technology transfer, the degree of inter-firm R&D spillovers, the intensity of product market competition, and the importance of the general knowledge pool. The impact of these factors differs markedly between technology leading firms and technology laggards. We find support for most of the predictions of the model in an empirical analysis of patents based on innovations in foreign countries by 131 leading European manufacturing firms in 22 ISIC industries in 1996-1997. For technology leaders, the share of patents originating in other EU countries responds positively to host country product market competition and is strongly increasing in the level of intellectual property rights protection. Foreign R&D by technology laggards is discouraged by host country competition but increases with the efficiency of (reverse) technology transfer. Foreign R&D of both leaders and laggards increases with the size of the local knowledge pool and the size of production operations in the host country.Competition; Country; Decision; Decisions; Efficiency; Empirical analysis; Factors; Firms; Impact; Industries; Industry; Innovation; Innovations; Intellectual property; Intensity; Interfirm R&D; International; Investment; Investments; Knowledge; Manufacturing; Manufacturing firms; Market; Model; Multinational firms; Optimal; Patents; Prediction; Predictions; Product; R&D; Size; Sourcing; Spillovers; Strategy; Technology; Technology transfer;
Onset of asthma in relation to indoor moulds and building dampness: a nine year follow up study within ECRHS-II
No full textTotal viable molds and fungal DNA in classrooms and association with respiratory health and pulmonary function of European schoolchildren
No full textInternational audienceTo cite this article: Simoni M, Cai G-H, Norback D, Annesi-Maesano I, Lavaud F, Sigsgaard T, Wieslander G, Nystad W, Canciani M, Viegi G, Sestini P. Total viable molds and fungal DNA in classrooms and association with respiratory health and pulmonary function of European schoolchildren. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011: 22: 843-852. ABSTRACT: Indoor molds are associated with adverse respiratory effects in children. Although schools are important exposure sources of molds, objective measurements were more often taken in homes. Our aim was to assess indoor molds in schools and related effects on schoolchildren health. The Health Effects of the School Environment study (HESE) included 21 schools (46 classrooms) in Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and France and 654 schoolchildren (mean age 10 yr). Information on schoolchildren was collected by standardized questionnaires. Measurements of total viable molds (VM, colony-forming units, cfu/m(3) ) and total/specific fungal DNA (cell equivalents, CE/g dust) were taken inside all classrooms in the cold season during normal activities, using the same standardized methodology. Pulmonary function tests were performed on 244 pupils. VM (mean, 320 cfu/m(3) ) and total fungal DNA (geometric mean, 2.2 × 10(5) ± 2.1 CE/g dust) were detectable in all classrooms. The levels were significantly higher in buildings with mold/dampness problems. VM, but not fungal DNA, were inversely related to ventilation rate. VM exceeded the maximum standard of 300 cfu/m(3) in 33% of the classrooms. In the past 12 months, dry cough at night (34%) and rhinitis (32%) were the mostly reported. Children exposed to VM levels ≥300 cfu/m(3) , compared with those exposed to lower levels, showed higher risk for past year dry cough at night (odds ratio, OR: 3.10, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.61-5.98) and rhinitis (OR: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.65-4.95), as well as for persistent cough (OR: 3.79, 95% CI: 2.40-5.60). Aspergillus/Penicillium DNA was significantly positively associated with wheeze, and Aspergillus versicolor DNA with wheeze, rhinitis, and cough. There were significant inverse associations of Aspergillus versicolor DNA with forced vitality capacity (FVC) and Streptomyces DNA with both FEV(1) and FVC. In conclusion, indoor VM and fungal DNA were commonly found in monitored European schools and adversely related to respiratory health. Schools should be routinely tested through both culturable and non-culturable methods for global indoor molds' evaluation
Do asthma and allergy influence subsequent pet keeping? An analysis of childhood and adulthood.
No full textAsthma and allergy might influence the choice of keeping pets, leading to apparent protective effects of pets on allergic disease. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of asthma and allergy on subsequent pet keeping in childhood and adulthood. METHODS: Information about asthma and pet keeping at ages 0 to 4, 5 to 15, 20 to 44, and 26 to 56 years was provided by 9812 subjects participating in the 9-year follow-up of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. RESULTS: In childhood asthma debut at younger than 5 years was associated with less cat keeping at 5 to 15 years (odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% CI, 0.44-0.82), an effect only observed when the parents did not have asthma or allergy (P(interaction) = .045). Childhood asthma did not influence adult pet ownership, unless there were adult symptoms. Adults less often acquired cats at follow-up if they had 3 or more asthma symptoms (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64-0.95), were taking asthma medication (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.31-0.74), had hay fever (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.91), had atopy (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.61-0.91), or had specific IgE to cat (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.39-0.82) at baseline. Adults who already had pets usually continued keeping the same type of pet, except that the presence of 3 or more asthma symptoms was associated with less subsequent dog keeping (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53-0.89). Pet removal between surveys to reduce allergen was reported by 4.7%. CONCLUSION: Selective avoidance subsequent to asthma or allergy was observed for childhood cat keeping and adult cat acquisition. Avoidance would produce an apparent protective effect of cats on childhood asthma (large OR, 0.83). Avoidance was generally not observed for dogs or birds. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A part of the protective effects of childhood cats on asthma and allergy can be attributed to selective avoidance
Cat allergen levels, its determinants and relationship to specific IgE to cat across European centers
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