Outdoor fungal spores and acute respiratory effects in vulnerable individuals

Rachel Tham; Bircan Erbas; Shyamali C Dharmage; Mimi LK Tang; Fahad Aldakheel; Caroline J Lodge; Paul S Thomas; Philip E Taylor; Michael J Abramson; Adrian J Lowe

Journal article

Outdoor fungal spores and acute respiratory effects in vulnerable individuals

Rachel Tham, Bircan Erbas, Shyamali C Dharmage, Mimi LK Tang, Fahad Aldakheel, Caroline J Lodge, Paul S Thomas, Philip E Taylor, Michael J Abramson, Adrian J Lowe

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH | ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE | Published : 2019

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108675

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many outdoor fungal spores are ubiquitous, respirable and possibly allergenic. They may contribute to asthma symptoms; however, little is known about their effects on respiratory function. OBJECTIVE: To investigate if outdoor fungal spore levels were associated with lung function or airway inflammation, and whether fungal sensitization or current asthma modified any associations. METHODS: Cross-sectional associations between same day (Lag0) and cumulative 3-day lagged (Lag0-3) counts of 12 outdoor fungal spore taxa and pre-bronchodilator spirometry (FEV1, FVC, FEF25%-75%), bronchodilator response (BDR) and airway inflammation (fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and exhaled br..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Adrian Lowe Author Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Mimi Tang Author Paediatrics Royal Children's Hospital

Caroline Lodge Author Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Bircan Erbas Author Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Shyamali Dharmage Author Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Related Projects (1)

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Grants

Awarded by Australian Government National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Research Training Program Scholarship

Awarded by NHMRC

Funding Acknowledgements

RT was funded by an Australian Government National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Research Training Program Scholarship (GNT1055754) and Centre for Air quality & health Research and evaluation (NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence) top up scholarship. SCD and AJ Lowe are funded by the NHMRC. FMA is supported by the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.The Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study (MACS) was supported by the NHMRC (APP454856), Nestec Ltd, a subsidiary of Nestle Australia and The University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia). The Melbourne Air Pollen and Children and Adolescent Health (MAPCAH) study was funded by the NHMRC (APP541934).