| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 環境醫學研究所 === 97 === Literatures have consistently demonstrated associations between exposures to microbial agents in built environments with increasing risk of reporting respiratory diseases, mostly based on measurements of single or selected microbial agents. However, in reality, environmental microbes (e.g. fungi and bacteria and other allergens) are co-existed in any environments at all times. Therefore, study including concurrent assessment of related bioaerosols becomes essential to elucidate their individual or synergistic roles deriving at corresponding health outcomes of concerns. The aims of this study with children aged 6 to 8 is to investigate the individual and combined effects of concurrent exposures to various microbial agents, such as airborne fungal spores, viable fungi, viable bacteria, house dust associated fungal (1→3)-β-D-glucan and bacterial endotoxin, as well as house dust mite allergens, on reporting respiratory or allergic symptoms and diseases. Home characteristics are also analyzed for associations with quantitative microbial levels when appropriate to examine the potential and effective surrogates reflecting microbial exposures for prevention. Results indicate that fungal spores and Der p1 are the significant major microbial agents related to the studied health outcomes. Moreover, the moisture content of building materials (>100%), indoor and outdoor 24-hrs average temperature (<27.13℃ and <27.58℃, respectively), indoor 24-hrs average relative humidity (>63.65%), presence of irritant smells as well as higher human density can be considered as alternative or surrogate environmental indicators without actual maneuver of real sampling and analytical activity for environmental microbes. Preventive measures and priority of remedial actions can therefore be planned accordingly.
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