CINCINNATI STUDY Spores may spark allergies in infants Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Mike Lafferty THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Infants exposed to fungus spores early in life have a greater chance of developing allergies, a study by University of Cincinnati scientists has found.
It’s the first study to link airborne fungal spores with a risk for multiple allergies in children.
Infants exposed to higher concentrations of spores were more likely to develop allergies to mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander and food, said Tiina Reponen, an environmentalhealth researcher.
The study is to be published in the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, but an early version was published online last week.
"We need to follow up these children to see what is the long- term effect," Reponen said. "Allergies can be transient. They may be present at age 1, and it may go away."
The research is part of a five-year, federally funded study at the university looking at the effects of environment on childhood respiratory health and allergies.
Fungi are a group of common organisms, including mushrooms, molds, mildews and yeasts, which reproduce through microscopic reproductive cells called spores.
The scientists collected spores from the homes of 144 children younger than 1. The children then were given annual checkups.
Generally, spore concentrations in households where infants developed allergies were twice those of households where infants did not develop allergies, said Melissa Osborne, who conducted the research in Reponen’s lab.
"There’s something happening down there early in life. Something is happening to the immune system predisposing people to (problems) later," said Mike Tringale, of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, in Washington, D.C.
He called the new study a start but said it should be extended and more children should be included.
Dr. Charity Fox, an allergist at the Ohio State University Medical Center, said factors such as dust mites, which feed on spores, cloud the issue and could be causing reactions themselves.
Reponen said spores could be working with other factors, such as tobacco smoke and diesel fumes, in the development of allergies and of asthma, the most common chronic disease of childhood.
"Current thinking is there is an interaction between mold and other pollutants," Reponen said. "I don’t believe you can blame only mold for asthma. Even diet can play a role." The study emphasizes the significance of indoor air quality for people living in modern, supertight homes that don’t allow moisture to escape. But older houses also present problems.
"Older houses that breathe more are going to have concentrations more like outdoors, where (spore) concentrations in summer can reach 15,000-20,000 spores per cubic meter. That’s a lot of spores," Osborne said.
To minimize problems, scientists say, parents should watch for leaks in roofs and basements and be sure they are repaired because the moisture can promote the growth of household mold.
Not all spores, however, are equal. Potent forms called basidiospores caused problems when levels were doubled, while concentrations of penicillium had to triple to be a problem.
And one type of spore, called cladosporium, reduced allergies.
Fox found that to be the most intriguing aspect of the study.
"The effect of certain molds may be either to enhance or work against allergic reactivity," she said.
