PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - José H. Jacobs
AU  - Esmeralda J.M. Krop
AU  - Siegfried de Wind
AU  - Jack Spithoven
AU  - Dick J.J. Heederik
TI  - Endotoxin levels in homes and classrooms of Dutch school children and respiratory health
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00084612
DP  - 2013 Aug 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 314--322
VI  - 42
IP  - 2
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/2/314.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/2/314.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Aug 01; 42
AB  - Several studies describe indoor pollutant exposure in homes and to a lesser extent in schools. Population studies that include both environments are sparse. This study aims to assess endotoxin levels in primary schools and homes of children. Endotoxin was also studied in relation to asthma and sensitisation. 10 schools with (index) and without (reference) dampness were selected, based on reports and inspections. Cases and controls were selected from 169 homes based on the presence or absence of asthma-like symptoms of children. Classroom and bedroom airborne settled dust was sampled using electrostatic dust fall collectors. Average endotoxin levels in schools ranged from 2178 to 6914 endotoxin units (EU)·m−2 per week compared with 462–1285 EU·m−2 per week in homes. After mutual adjustment for home and school endotoxin, school endotoxin was positively associated with nonatopic asthma (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.97–1.27), while no associations with endotoxin were found at home. The high endotoxin levels in schools compared with homes indicate that exposure at school can contribute considerably to environmental endotoxin exposure of children and teachers. Our results also suggest that endotoxin in schools may be associated with nonatopic asthmatic symptoms in pupils, although the results require reproduction because of the modest sample size.