Comparison of work-related symptoms and visual contrast sensitivity between employees at a severely water-damaged school and a school without significant water damage

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

Volumn 55, Issue 9, 2012, Pages 844-854

  Thomas, Gregory ^a   Burton, Nancy Clark ^a   Mueller, Charles ^a   Page, Elena ^a   Vesper, Stephen ^b,c  

^a NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH   (United States)

^b U S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY   (United States)

^c Office of Air and Radiation   (United States)

Author keywords

Asthma; Health hazard evaluation; Mold; Respiratory; School; Visual contrast sensitivity

Indexed keywords

ADULT; AIR POLLUTANT; ARTICLE; COMPARATIVE STUDY; CONTRAST SENSITIVITY; EVALUATION; FEMALE; FUNGUS; HUMAN; HUMIDITY; MALE; MIDDLE AGED; OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE; OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE; QUESTIONNAIRE; RASH; RESPIRATORY TRACT DISEASE; SCHOOL; UNITED STATES;

ADULT; AIR POLLUTANTS, OCCUPATIONAL; CONTRAST SENSITIVITY; EXANTHEMA; FEMALE; FUNGI; HUMANS; HUMIDITY; MALE; MIDDLE AGED; NEW ORLEANS; OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES; OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE; OHIO; QUESTIONNAIRES; RESPIRATORY TRACT DISEASES; SCHOOLS;

EID: 84865043144     PISSN: 02713586     EISSN: 10970274     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22059     Document Type: Article

References (44)

1. Amler RW, Gibertini M, Lybarger JA, Hall A, Kakolewski K, Phifer BL, Olsen KL. 1996. Selective approaches to basic neurobehavioral testing of children in environmental health studies. Neurotoxicol Teratol 18(4): 429- 434.
2. Atkin A, Bodis-Wollner I, Wolkstein M, Moss A, Podos SM. 1979. Abnormalities in central contrast sensitivity in glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol 88(2): 205- 211.
3. Bartgis J, Lefler EK, Hartung CM, Thomas DG. 2009. Contrast sensitivity in children with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms. Dev Neuropsychol 34(6): 663- 682.
4. Bender BG. 2005. Cognitive effects of allergic rhinitis and its treatment. Immunol Allergy Clin N Am 25(2): 301- 312.
5. Boeckelmann I, Pfister EA. 2003. Influence of occupational exposure to organic solvent mixtures on contrast sensitivity in printers. J Occup Environ Med 45(1): 25- 33.
6. Brinkman NE, Haugland RA, Wymer LJ, Byappanahalli M, Whitman RL, Vesper SJ. 2003. Evaluation of a rapid, quantitative real-time PCR method for cellular enumeration of pathogenic Candida species in water. Appl Environ Microbiol 69(3): 1775- 1782.
7. Broadwell DK, Darcey DJ, Hudnell HK, Otto DA, Boyes WK. 1995. Work-site clinical and neurobehavioral assessment of solvent-exposed microelectronics workers. Am J Indust Med 27(5): 677- 698.
8. Bubl E, Van Elst LT, Gondan M, Ebert D, Greenlee MW. 2009. Vision in depressive disorder. World J Biol Psychiatry 10(4): 377- 384.
9. CensusScope. ( http://www.censusscope.org/us/metro_rank_race_black africanamerican.html). Date accessed: February 2012.
10. Fitzpatrick MF, Engleman H, Whyte KF, Deary IJ, Shapiro CM, Douglas NJ. 1991. Morbidity in nocturnal asthma: Sleep quality and daytime cognitive performance. Thorax 46(8): 569- 573.
11. Frenette B, Mergler D, Bowler R. 1991. Contrast sensitivity loss in a group of former microelectronics workers with normal visual acuity. Optom Vis Sci 68(7): 556- 560.
12. Ginsburg AP. 1993. Functional Acuity Contrast Test F.A.C.T.® Instructions for use. Chicago, IL: Stereo Optical Company, Inc.
13. Gong Y, Kishi R, Kasai S, Katakura Y, Fujiwara K, Umemura T, Kondo T, Sato T, Sata F, Tsukishima E, Tozaki S, Kawai T, Miyama Y. 2003. Visual dysfunction in workers exposed to a mixture of organic solvents. Neurotoxicology 24(4-5): 703- 710.
14. Hammond SD Jr, Puri AK, Ambati BK. 2004. Quality of vision and patient satisfaction after LASIK. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 15(4): 328- 332.
15. Haugland RA, Brinkman NE, Vesper SJ. 2002. Evaluation of rapid DNA extraction methods for the quantitative detection of fungal cells using real time PCR analysis. J Microbiol Methods 50(3): 319- 323.
16. Haugland RA, Varma M, Wymer LJ, Vesper SJ. 2004. Quantitative PCR of selected Aspergillus, Penicillium and Paecilomyces species. Syst Appl Microbiol 27(2): 198- 210.
17. Helsel DR. 2005. Nondetects and data analysis, statistics for censored environmental data. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley and Sons Inc.
18. Hitchcock EM, Dick RB, Krieg EF. 2003. Visual contrast sensitivity testing: A comparison of two F.A.C.T. test types. Neurotoxicol Teratol 26(2): 271- 277.
19. Leander M, Cronqvist A, Janson C, Uddenfeldt M, Rask-Andersen A. 2009. Non-respiratory symptoms and well-being in asthmatics from a general population sample. J Asthma 46(6): 552- 559.
20. Meklin T, Haugland RA, Reponen T, Varma M, Lummus Z, Bernstein D, Wymer LJ, Vesper SJ. 2004. Quantitative PCR analysis of house dust can reveal abnormal mold conditions. J Environ Monitor 6(7): 615- 620.
21. NIOSH. NIOSH manual of analytical methods (NMAM®). 4th edition. Schlecht PC, O'Connor PF, editors. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for. Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH). Publication 94-113 (August, 1994); 1st Supplement Publication 96-135, 2nd Supplement Publication 98-119; 3rd Supplement 2003-154. [http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nmam/]. Date accessed: February 2012.
22. Nomura H, Ando F, Niino N, Shimokata H, Miyake Y. 2003. Age-related change in contrast sensitivity among Japanese adults. Jpn J Ophthalmol 47(3): 299- 303.
23. Pearson P, Timney B. 1998. Effects of moderate blood alcohol concentrations on spatial and temporal contrast sensitivity. J Stud Alcohol 59(2): 163- 173.
24. Pearson P, Timney B. 1999. Alcohol does not affect visual contrast gain mechanisms. Vis Neurosci 16(4): 675- 680.
25. Regan D. 1989. Human brain electrophysiology. New York: Elsevier.
26. Reponen T, Vesper S, Levin L, Johansson E, Ryan P, Burkle J, Grinshpun SA, Zheng S, Bernstein DI, Lockey J, Villareal M, Khurana Hershey GK, LeMasters G. 2011. High environmental relative moldiness index during infancy as a predictor of asthma at 7 years of age. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 107(2): 120- 126.
27. Roquelaure Y, Gargasson LE, Kupper S, Girre C, Hispard E, Dally S. 1995. Alcohol consumption and visual contrast sensitivity. Alcohol Alcohol 30(5): 681- 685.
28. Schreiber JS, Hudnell HK, Geller AM, House DE, Aldous KM, Force MS, Langguth K, Prohonic EJ, Parker JC. 2002. Apartment residents' and day care workers' exposure to tetrachloroethylene and deficits in visual contrast sensitivity. Environ Health Perspect 110(7): 655- 664.
29. Shamshinova AM, Arakelian MA, Rogova SIU, Adasheva TV, Silakova OL. 2007. Classification of the forms of hypertensive retinopathy on the basis of estimation of the bioelectrical retinal potential and contrast sensitivity. Vestn Oftalmol 123(1): 24- 28.
30. Shoemaker RC, House DE. 2005. A time-series study of sick building syndrome: chronic, biotoxin-associated illness from exposure to water-damaged buildings. Neurotoxicol Teratol 27(1): 29- 46.
31. Shoemaker RC, House DE. 2006. Sick building syndrome and exposure to water-damaged buildings: Time series study, clinical trial and mechanisms. Neurotoxicol Teratol 28(5): 573- 588.
32. Sizemore OJ, Amler RW. 1996. Characteristics of ATSDR's adult and pediatric environmental neurobehavioral test batteries. Neurotoxins 17(1): 229- 236.
33. Sokol S, Moskowitz A, Skarf B, Evans R, Molitch M, Senior B. 1985. Contrast sensitivity in diabetics with and without background retinopathy. Arch Ophthalmol 103(1): 51- 54.
34. Trick GL, Burde RM, Gordon MO, Santiago JV, Kilo C. 1988. The relationship between hue discrimination and contrast sensitivity deficits in patients with diabetes mellitus. Ophthalmology 95(5): 693- 698.
35. US Cities. (http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-South/New-Orleans-Education-and-Research.html). 2009. Date accessed: February 2012.
36. Vesper S. 2011. Traditional mould analysis compared to a DNA-based method of mould analysis. Crit Rev Microbiol 37(1): 15- 24.
37. Vesper SJ, McKinstry C, Yang C, Haugland RA, Kercsmar CM, Yike I, Schluchter MD, Kirchner HL, Sobolewski J, Allan TM, Dearborn DG. 2006. Specific molds associated with asthma. J Occup Environ Med 48(8): 852- 858.
38. Vesper S, McKinstry C, Haugland R, Wymer L, Bradham K, Ashley P, Cox D, Dewalt G, Friedman W. 2007a. Development of an environmental relative moldiness index for US homes. J Occup Environ Med 49(8): 829- 833.
39. Vesper SJ, McKinstry C, Haugland RA, Iossifova Y, LeMasters G, Levin L, Hershey GKK, Villareal M, Bernstein DI, Reponen T. 2007b. Relative moldiness index as predictor of childhood respiratory illness. J Expo Science Environ Epi 17: 88- 94.
40. Vesper S, Wakefield J, Ashley P, Cox D, Dewalt G, Friedman W. 2011. Geographic distribution of environmental relative moldiness index (ERMI) molds in U.S. homes. J Environ Pub Health Article ID 242457: 11 (doi: 10.1155/2011/242457).
41. Weersink EJ, van Zomeren EH, Koëter GH, Postma DS. 1997. Treatment of nocturnal airway obstruction improves daytime cognitive performance in asthmatics. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 156(4 Pt 1): 1144- 1150.
42. World Health Organization. 2009. WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and mould. Copenhagen, Denmark: WHO Regional Office for Europe.
43. Williams SA, Wagner S, Kannan H, Bolge SC. 2009. The association between asthma control and health care utilization, work productivity loss, and health-related quality of life. J Occup Environ Med 51(7): 780- 785.
44. Yap J, Toh ZA, Goh V, Ng LC, Vesper S. 2009. Assessment of mould concentrations in Singapore shopping centers using mould specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR) analysis. Indian J Microbiol 49(2): 290- 293.