TY - JOUR
T1 - Endotoxin levels and contribution factors of endotoxins in resident, school, and office environments — A review
AU - Salonen, Heidi
AU - Duchaine, Caroline
AU - Létourneau, Valérie
AU - Mazaheri, Mandana
AU - Laitinen, Sirpa
AU - Clifford, Sam
AU - Mikkola, Raimo
AU - Lappalainen, Sanna
AU - Reijula, Kari
AU - Morawska, Lidia
PY - 2016/10/1
Y1 - 2016/10/1
N2 - As endotoxin exposure has known effects on human health, it is important to know the generally existing levels of endotoxins as well as their contributing factors. This work reviews current knowledge on the endotoxin loads in settled floor dust, concentrations of endotoxins in indoor air, and different environmental factors potentially affecting endotoxin levels. The literature review consists of peer-reviewed manuscripts located using Google and PubMed, with search terms based on individual words and combinations. References from relevant articles have also been searched. Analysis of the data showed that in residential, school, and office environments, the mean endotoxin loads in settled floor dust varied between 660 and 107,000 EU/m2, 2180 and 48,000 EU/m2, and 2700 and 12,890 EU/m2, respectively. Correspondingly, the mean endotoxin concentrations in indoor air varied between 0.04 and 1610 EU/m3 in residences, and 0.07 and 9.30 EU/m3 in schools and offices. There is strong scientific evidence indicating that age of houses (or housing unit year category), cleaning, farm or rural living, flooring materials (the presence of carpets), number of occupants, the presence of dogs or cats indoors, and relative humidity affect endotoxin loads in settled floor dust. The presence of pets (especially dogs) was extremely strongly associated with endotoxin concentrations in indoor air. However, as reviewed articles show inconsistency, additional studies on these and other possible predicting factors are needed.
AB - As endotoxin exposure has known effects on human health, it is important to know the generally existing levels of endotoxins as well as their contributing factors. This work reviews current knowledge on the endotoxin loads in settled floor dust, concentrations of endotoxins in indoor air, and different environmental factors potentially affecting endotoxin levels. The literature review consists of peer-reviewed manuscripts located using Google and PubMed, with search terms based on individual words and combinations. References from relevant articles have also been searched. Analysis of the data showed that in residential, school, and office environments, the mean endotoxin loads in settled floor dust varied between 660 and 107,000 EU/m2, 2180 and 48,000 EU/m2, and 2700 and 12,890 EU/m2, respectively. Correspondingly, the mean endotoxin concentrations in indoor air varied between 0.04 and 1610 EU/m3 in residences, and 0.07 and 9.30 EU/m3 in schools and offices. There is strong scientific evidence indicating that age of houses (or housing unit year category), cleaning, farm or rural living, flooring materials (the presence of carpets), number of occupants, the presence of dogs or cats indoors, and relative humidity affect endotoxin loads in settled floor dust. The presence of pets (especially dogs) was extremely strongly associated with endotoxin concentrations in indoor air. However, as reviewed articles show inconsistency, additional studies on these and other possible predicting factors are needed.
KW - Airborne endotoxins
KW - Bioaerosols
KW - Endotoxins
KW - Environmental characteristics
KW - Indoor environments
KW - Settled dust
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84981173596&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.08.018
DO - 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.08.018
M3 - Review Article
AN - SCOPUS:84981173596
VL - 142
SP - 360
EP - 369
JO - Atmospheric Environment
JF - Atmospheric Environment
SN - 1352-2310
ER -
