The German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) was conducted from May 2003 to May 2006 by the Robert Koch Institute in 167 communities representative of Germany By collecting comprehensive and nationally representative data on the health status of children and adolescents aged 0 to 17 years, the study aimed to fill a longstanding evidence gap Data from 17,641 study participants will be analysed in a timely and systematic manner by the Robert Koch Institute Initially mainly descriptive analyses as presented in the current special issue on the KiGGS study, provide information on the distribution of main health characteristics according to sociodemographic key variables, including age, sex, region of residence (former East/West Germany), social status, and migrant background We report here the rationale for a standard set of stratifying variables and the operationalisation of composite variables Furthermore, we illustrate the public health relevance of the observed group differences using the example of an important health indicator: parents' evaluation of their children's general state of health

/pdf/messung-soziodemographischer-merkmale-im-kinder-und-5beb3b7uee.pdf

Messung soziodemographischer Merkmale im Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitssurvey (KiGGS) und ihre Bedeutung am Beispiel der Einschätzung des allgemeinen Gesundheitszustands

To cite this article: Buters JTM, Weichenmeier I, Ochs S, Pusch G, Kreyling W, Boere AJF, Schober W, Behrendt H. The allergen Bet v 1 in fractions of ambient air deviates from birch pollen counts. Allergy 2010; 65: 850–858.



Abstract

Background:  Proof is lacking that pollen count is representative for allergen exposure, also because allergens were found in nonpollen-bearing fractions of ambient air.



Objective:  We monitored simultaneously birch pollen and the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 in different size fractions of ambient air from 2004 till 2007 in Munich, Germany.



Methods:  Air was sampled with a ChemVol® high-volume cascade impactor equipped with stages for particulate matter (PM)>10 μm, 10 μm>PM>2.5 μm, and 2.5 μm>PM>0.12 μm. Allergen was determined with a Bet v 1-specific ELISA. Pollen count was assessed with a Burkard pollen trap. We also measured the development of allergen in pollen during ripening.



Results:  About 93 ± 3% of Bet v 1 was found in the PM > 10 μm fraction, the fraction containing birch pollen. We did not measure any Bet v 1 in 2.5 μm > PM > 0.12 μm. Either in Munich no allergen was in this fraction or the allergen was absorbed to diesel soot particles that also deposit in this fraction. Pollen released 115% more Bet v 1 in 2007 than in 2004. Also within 1 year, the release of allergen from the same amount of pollen varied more than 10-fold between different days. This difference was explained by a rapidly increasing expression of Bet v 1 in pollen in the week just before pollination. Depending on the day the pollen is released during ripening, its potency varies.



Conclusion:  In general, pollen count and allergen in ambient air follow the same temporal trends. However, because a 10-fold difference can exist in allergen potency of birch pollen, symptoms might be difficult to correlate with pollen counts, but perhaps better with allergen exposure.

The allergen Bet v 1 in fractions of ambient air deviates from birch pollen counts.

Allergische Erkrankungen

Allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, asthma, airborne dermatitis, or allergic conjunctivitis, can be caused or aggravated by components of bioaerosol from natural environment or from indoor environment in enclosed spaces, workplaces and homes. The main components of bioaerosol are fungi and their metabolites, which are common in the environment.

https://www.termedia.pl/Journal/-7/pdf-20288-10?filename=The role of fungi.pdf

The role of fungi in allergic diseases.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the available literature on fungal contamination as a major contributor to sick building syndrome (SBS). A large number of fungi are saprophytes or decomposers, which mainly occur in natural environments such as soil and plant debris. Some of these fungi can be found in indoor environments. Certain indoor fungal contaminants pose a potential health risk to building occupants and may lead to SBS. Fungal spores are a well-known cause of allergic diseases and are identified as one of the major indoor allergens. All fungi may be allergenic, depending on the individual, the exposure situation, and the dose. This chapter provides a list of genera of fungi that have been reported to be allergenic. Some of these are Aspergillus, Amanita, Boletus, Cladosporium, and Claviceps . Synergistic inhalation effects of fungal byproducts—such as mycotoxins, β-glucans, or perhaps fungal VOCs—are potentially irritating, toxic, teratogenic, carcinogenic, and immune-suppressive. Risk assessment for human exposure to fungi and their byproducts is complicated because it involves multiple agents, hypersensitivity reactions, and different disease consequences.

Fungal contamination as a major contributor to sick building syndrome.

Aim: Aim of the study is to examine the hypotheses of a steeper increase in allergies and allergic sensitisations in East than in West German children between 1991 and 2000. Method: Between 1991 and 2000 we yearly repeated cross-sectional studies (SAWO: Study on school beginners) and asked 36,645 parents about diagnoses and symptoms of allergies in their six-year old children (response: 79%). The study was done in Leipzig, Halle, Merseburg, Magdeburg, small towns in the Altmark region, Duisburg, Essen, Koln and Borken during spring. An allergological investigation was included 1991, 1994,1997 and 2000. Dermatologists diagnosed a prevalent atopic eczema, administered a skin prick test (n = 7,229) and blood was taken for the determination of specific IgE antibodies against common allergens (n = 7,714, RAST). Odds Ratios (OR) for trend were calculated separately for the data from East and West Germany and are given along with their 95% confidence intervals. Results: Allergies and their symptoms (exception: atopic eczema) were less prevalent in East German children born before the reunification than in West German ones. In East as well as in West Germany bronchial asthma was diagnosed more often in 2000 than in 1991 (OR East: 2.42 [1.78-3.28] West: 2.07 [1.43-3.00]). In contrast the prevalence of atopic eczemas was more than halved between 1991 and 2000. Of all symptoms and diagnoses of allergies only hay fever and its symptoms showed an upward trend in East Germany which was steeper than the trend in West Germany (OR East: 4.41 [3.17-6.13] West: 1.74 [1.19-2.57]). This can partly be explained by a parallel trend in sensitisation against grass pollen. Conclusion: The spatial and temporal pattern of the allergic diseases bronchial asthma, hay fever and atopic eczema in six-year old children from Germany is different. The expected steeper increase of allergies in East than in West Germany could only be shown for hay fever.

Die Schulanfängerstudie in West- und Ostdeutschland (SAWO): Trends von Allergien und Sensibilisierungen 1991-2000

The interrelation between biological pollution of indoor spaces and health disorders, allergic symptoms and health issues in general is well known. Besides animal epithelia, the exposure to house dust mites and mould fungi is considered a serious risk factor. In the scope of a comparative study involving school beginners in East and West Germany (launched in 1991), dust was vacuumed from a total of 218 mattresses of children's beds and checked for their content of house dust mites and mould fungi. This investigation aimed at assessing the degree of exposure, to determine regional differences, if any, and to uncover the correlation between exposure and symptoms. Dust mite infestation was highest in the small town of Borken in Westphalia (in 86 % of the specimens > 2 μg mite allergens/g of dust) and lowest in Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt (55.3 %). Total concentrations of mould fungi varied from 1.4×10 3 CFU/g of dust and 300×10 3 CFU/g of dust with a geometric mean of 26.5 x 10 3 CFU/g of dust. A total of 41 different genera/species were identified. Most frequent were the following genera: Penicillium, Eurotium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Epicoccum and Cladosporium. The importance of individual factors influencing was confirmed. Humidity decreases the higher the flat is situated in a building. This partly explains the differences in concentrations between Borken where children live mainly on the ground floor, and the other cities with taller buildings. Spores of mould fungi were discovered more frequently in mattresses from humid flats. An association between biological indoor space factors and some allergological parameters seemed obvious, however, due to the small size of the test group most of them were not significant.

Belastungssituation ost- und westdeutscher Haushalte mit Hausstaubmilben und Schimmelpilzen

Human milk samples were tested for pesticide residues (particularly chlorinated hydrocarbons) in 1996 in continuation of the environmental medical tests conducted in 1990 and 1993 in Bitterfeld county. Although the overall human milk contamination due to chlorinated hydrocarbons was reduced, there were still higher concentrations of DDT and beta-HCH detected compared to the concentrations found in what was formerly West Germany. The objective of this follow-up testing of 106 human milk samples was to observe overall trends as well as the specific effects of sanitary and environmental protection measures after three years. Sample preparation included fat extraction and chromatographic column studies. The extracts were analyzed by means of two different gas chromatography systems based on electron-catching detectors. Overall, the contamination was reduced compared to the years of 1990 and 1993. Contaminant concentrations did not exceed the "tolerable concentration" while using a safety factor of 10. However, few beta-HCH (2% of the samples), HCB (22%), total DDT (20%), and more than half of total PCB samples exceeded the "tolerable concentrations" while using a safety factor of 100. A major decrease in the average contamination was noticed for total PCB (63% decrease for 0.3 mg/kg of milk fat), beta-HCH (77% decrease for 0.056 mg/kg of milk fat), and HCB (57% decrease for 0.091 mg/kg of milk fat). The concentration of the heptachlorepoxide was even reduced to 1%. Whereas the DDT and DDD concentrations were also reduced compared to 1993 (83% decrease for 0.033 mg/kg of milk fat, and 84% decrease of 0.005 mg/kg of milk fat), the DDE concentration increased (32% increase for 0.755 mg/kg of milk fat). This can be explained by the decomposition of enzymes from DDT to DDE and the extremely high accumulation tendency of this metabolite. The results show that the contamination of women over time was influenced by two contrary factors. On one hand, the internal exposure increases with age; on the other hand lactation eliminates contaminants from the body of the mother. Comparison to other states' data shows that the results match the overall picture of the residue situation in Germany. Results of the environmental-medical investigations from 1996 demonstrate a predominant decrease of contamination with chlorinated hydrocarbons within the human body. This tendency was possibly influenced by two developments. The global usage of persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons was critically observed and regulated more strictly in recent years, which decreased their concentration tremendously. The other reason for the reduction of contamination by chlorinated hydrocarbons in the county of Bitterfeld could be the improving environmental situation in this region.

Breast milk studies in the Bitterfeld district

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Die Schulanfängerstudie in West- und Ostdeutschland (SAWO): Trends von Allergien und Sensibilisierungen 1991-2000

Belastungssituation ost- und westdeutscher Haushalte mit Hausstaubmilben und Schimmelpilzen

Breast milk studies in the Bitterfeld district