Stuart L. Abramson, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Immunology (abramson@bcm.tmc.edu), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77037, and Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin St, Suite FC330.01, Houston, TX 77030; 2Anne Turner-Henson, DSN, RN, Professor (turnhena@uab.edu), UAB School of Nursing, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294; 3Lise Anderson, MPH, Project Associate (lisand@umich.edu), Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, L4000 Womens 0276, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; 4Mary P. Hemstreet, MD, Professor Emeritus (mphmd@aol.com), and5Shenghui Tang, PhD, Research Associate (shenghuitang@fda.hhs.gov), UAB School of Medicine, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294; 6L. Kay Bartholomew, EdD, MPH, Associate Professor (leona.k.bartholomew@uth.tmc.edu), School of Public Health, University of Texas at Houston, 7000 Fannin, Houston, TX 77030; 7Christine L.M. Joseph, PhD, Senior Epidemiologist (cjoseph1@hfhs.org), Department of Epidemiology and Research Biostatistics, Henry Ford Health System, 1 Ford Place Suite 3E, Detroit, MI 48202; 8Shellie Tyrrell, MSW, MPH, Health Behavior Research Consultant (shelltyrrell@aol.com), formerly at University of Texas at Houston School of Public Health, 228 Alta Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84103; 9Noreen M. Clark, PhD, Professor (nmclark@umich.edu), University of Michigan School of Public Health, SPH Dean’s Office, 3520 SPH I 2029, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; and 10Dennis Ownby, MD, Professor (downby@mcg.edu), Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine, Section of Allergy, BG 1019, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin St Suite FC330.01, Houston, TX 77030. This study was supported by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Interventions to Improve Asthma Management/Intervention, W. C. Bailey PI (HR56077), N.M.C. PI (HR56078) and L.K.B. PI (HR56079).
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Allergens in School Settings: Results of Environmental Assessments in 3 City School Systems
Article first published online: 16 AUG 2006
DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00105.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Abramson, S. L., Turner-Henson, A., Anderson, L., Hemstreet, M. P., Bartholomew, L. K., Joseph, C. L. M., Tang, S., Tyrrell, S., Clark, N. M. and Ownby, D. (2006), Allergens in School Settings: Results of Environmental Assessments in 3 City School Systems. Journal of School Health, 76: 246–249. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00105.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 16 AUG 2006
- Article first published online: 16 AUG 2006
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Abstract: Environmental allergens are major triggers for pediatric asthma. While children’s greatest exposure to indoor allergens is in the home, other public places where children spend a large amount of time, such as school and day care centers, may also be sources of significant allergen encounters. The purpose of this article is to describe schoolroom allergen levels from 3 different geographic sites obtained from dust samples collected in the fall and in spring. Environmental dust samples were collected from elementary schools in Birmingham (AL), Detroit (MI), and Houston (TX), from 4 room locations, including the cafeteria, library, upper grades, and lower grades. Samples were assayed for dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae), cat (Felis domesticus), and cockroach (Blatella germanica 2) allergen levels. Allergen levels varied by geographic location and type of schoolroom. Schoolroom settings differed by the type of flooring (hard and carpet), room characteristics and use (food service, library shelves with books, and general classroom with multiple types of materials [individual desks and different types of furniture]), and the average age of the schoolroom dwellers (younger vs. older children). Dust mite, cat, and cockroach allergens were present in all schoolrooms and all sites at varying levels by season and by type of room. Schools may be important sources of direct allergen exposure and reservoirs that could potentially contribute to allergic sensitization and disease exacerbation in children. Further studies are needed to carefully examine the environmental allergen load in schools and its effect on children. (J Sch Health. 2006;76(6):246-249)