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. 2007 Mar;73(5):1630-4.
doi: 10.1128/AEM.01973-06. Epub 2007 Jan 5.

Characterization of airborne molds, endotoxins, and glucans in homes in New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Carol Y Rao  1 , Margaret A Riggs, Ginger L Chew, Michael L Muilenberg, Peter S Thorne, David Van Sickle, Kevin H Dunn, Clive Brown
Affiliations

Characterization of airborne molds, endotoxins, and glucans in homes in New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Carol Y Rao et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2007 Mar.

Erratum in

  • Appl Environ Microbiol. 2008 Apr;74(8):2558

Abstract

In August and September 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused breeches in the New Orleans, LA, levee system, resulting in catastrophic flooding. The city remained flooded for several weeks, leading to extraordinary mold growth in homes. To characterize the potential risks of mold exposures, we measured airborne molds and markers of molds and bacteria in New Orleans area homes. In October 2005, we collected air samples from 5 mildly water-damaged houses, 15 moderately to heavily water-damaged houses, and 11 outdoor locations. The air filters were analyzed for culturable fungi, spores, (1-->3,1-->6)-beta-D-glucans, and endotoxins. Culturable fungi were significantly higher in the moderately/heavily water-damaged houses (geometric mean=67,000 CFU/m3) than in the mildly water-damaged houses (geometric mean=3,700 CFU/m3) (P=0.02). The predominant molds found were Aspergillus niger, Penicillium spp., Trichoderma, and Paecilomyces. The indoor and outdoor geometric means for endotoxins were 22.3 endotoxin units (EU)/m3 and 10.5 EU/m3, respectively, and for (1-->3,1-->6)-beta-D-glucans were 1.7 microg/m3 and 0.9 microg/m3, respectively. In the moderately/heavily water-damaged houses, the geometric means were 31.3 EU/m3 for endotoxins and 1.8 microg/m3 for (1-->3,1-->6)-beta-D-glucans. Molds, endotoxins, and fungal glucans were detected in the environment after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans at concentrations that have been associated with health effects. The species and concentrations were different from those previously reported for non-water-damaged buildings in the southeastern United States.

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Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Visible mold and damage in a bedroom (A) and on the ceiling (B) of a representative house in St. Bernard's Parish on 10 October 2005.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.
Frequency of cultured fungal taxa detected indoors (n = 20) and outdoors (n = 11) and incubated at room temperature (Temp) and 37°C. Curvularia is not shown in the graph since it was detected only once in an outdoor sample.
FIG. 3.
FIG. 3.
Indoor-to-outdoor concentration ratios. Residences a, b, c, and d were in the mildly water-damaged areas, while the other residences (in uppercase) were in the moderately to heavily water-damaged areas. The medians (MED) are of the 11 residences. Temp, temperature.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2006. Mold prevention strategies and possible health effects in the aftermath of hurricanes and major floods. Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 55(RR-8):1-27. - PubMed
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