Effects of exposure to ambient and indoor fungal spores on reporting childhood respiratory health in Taiwan

This study aimed to examine the associations between total fungal exposures, both from outdoor and indoor environments, and reporting childhood respiratory symptoms in Taiwan. Twenty-two children, living within 10-km diameter of stationary monitoring sites for ambient fungal spores, were enrolled for household sampling, and asked to keep their health diaries and time-activity patterns everyday for the corresponding week. Results showed that statistically significant association was found between the reporting frequency of sneeze and total exposure of airborne Penicillium/Aspergillus (OR=30.67, 95%CI=2.46-1651.41) after adjusting for the episode of fever, child's age and gender. The significance remained after taking into account the exposure levels of all other indoor pollutants measured, including CO₂ (OR=41.76, 95%CI=3.31-2274.04). A significant and steady effect of both outdoor and indoor total fungal exposure was demonstrated on reporting adverse respiratory health in children of Taiwan.