Affiliations 

  • 1 Uppsala University, Department of Medical Science, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: dan.norback@medsci.uu.se
  • 2 United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Community Health, National University of Malaysia, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 5 Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Environmental Health, Allied Health Science College Sg Buloh, Ministry of Health Malaysia, 47000 Sungai Buloh; Selangor, Malaysia
  • 6 Uppsala University, Department of Medical Science, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
Int J Hyg Environ Health, 2017 06;220(4):697-703.
PMID: 28254266 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.01.016

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There are few studies on ocular effects of indoor mould exposure in schools, especially in the tropics OBJECTIVE: To study associations between eye symptoms and tear film break up time (BUT) in students and demographic data and fungal DNA in schools.

METHODS: A school environment study was performed among randomly selected students in eight randomly selected secondary schools in Penang, Malaysia. Information on eye symptoms and demographic data was collected by a standardised questionnaire. BUT was measured by two methods, self-reported BUT (SBUT) and by the non-invasive Tearscope (NIBUT). Dust was collected by vacuuming in 32 classrooms and analysed for five fungal DNA sequences. Geometric mean (GM) for total fungal DNA was 7.31*104 target copies per gram dust and for Aspergillus/Penicillium DNA 3.34*104 target copies per gram dust. Linear mixed models and 3-level multiple logistic regression were applied adjusting for demographic factors.

RESULTS: A total of 368 students (58%) participated and 17.4% reported weekly eye symptoms the last 3 months. The median SBUT and TBUT were 15 and 12s, respectively. Students wearing glasses (OR 2.41, p=0.01) and with a history of atopy (OR=2.67; p=0.008) had more eye symptoms. Girls had less eye symptoms than boys (OR=0.34; p=0.006) Indoor carbon dioxide in the classrooms was low (range 380-720ppm), temperature was 25-30°C and relative air humidity 70-88%. Total fungal DNA in vacuumed dust was associated with shorter SBUT (4s shorter per 105 target copies per gram dust; p=0.04) and NIBUT (4s shorter per 105 target copies per gram dust; p<0.001). Aspergillus/Penicillium DNA was associated with shorter NIBUT (5s shorter per 105 target copies per gram dust; p=0.01).

CONCLUSION: Fungal contamination in schools in a tropical country can be a risk factor for impaired tear film stability among students.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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