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RELATIVE MOLDINESS INDEX© AS PREDICTOR OF CHILDHOOD RESPIRATORY ILLNESS
Citation:
VESPER, S. J., C. MCKINSTRY, R. A. HAUGLAND, Y. IOSSIFOVA, G. LEMASTERS, L. LEVIN, G. K. HERSHEY, M. VILLAREAL, D. I. BERNSTEIN, J. LOCKEY, AND T. REPONEN. RELATIVE MOLDINESS INDEX© AS PREDICTOR OF CHILDHOOD RESPIRATORY ILLNESS. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology . Nature Publishing Group, London, Uk, 17(1):88-94, (2007).
Impact/Purpose:
1. Develop and publish a standard method or guidance document for QPCR analysis of microorganisms in environmental samples (air and water filtrates and dust).a standard method or guidance document for QPCR analysis of microorganisms in environmental samples (air and water filtrates and dust). Publication will involve a consensus standards organization. 2. Use QPCR methods to monitor childhood exposures to mold as a part of field studies, in order to establish whether a relationship exists between molds encountered in indoor environments and asthma-related health problems.
Description:
The results of a traditional visual mold inspection were compared to a mold evaluation based on the Relative Moldiness Index (RMI). The RMI is calculated from mold specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR) measurements of the concentation of 36 species of molds in floor dust samples. These two prospective mold evaluations were used to classify the mold condition in 271 homes of infants. Later, the development of respiratory illness was measured in the infants living in these homes and the predictive value of each classification system evaluated. The binary classification of homes as either moldy or non-moldy by on-site vidual home inspection was not predictive of the development of respiratory illness (wheeze and/or rhinitis) (p=0.27). Conversely, a method developed and validated in this paper using the RMI index fit to a logistic function, can be used to predict the occurrence of illness in homes and allows stakeholders the choice among various levels of risk.