Ocular symptoms and tear film break up time (BUT) among junior high school students in Penang, Malaysia-Associations with fungal DNA in school dust

Norbäck, Dan, Hashim, Jamal H., Hashim, Zailina, Sooria, Vinoshini, Ismail, Syazwan A. and Wieslander, Gunilla, (2017). Ocular symptoms and tear film break up time (BUT) among junior high school students in Penang, Malaysia-Associations with fungal DNA in school dust. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 1-7

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Norbäck, Dan
    Hashim, Jamal H.
    Hashim, Zailina
    Sooria, Vinoshini
    Ismail, Syazwan A.
    Wieslander, Gunilla
    Title Ocular symptoms and tear film break up time (BUT) among junior high school students in Penang, Malaysia-Associations with fungal DNA in school dust
    Appearing in International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
    Publication Date 2017-01
    Place of Publication London
    Publisher Elsevier B.V.
    Start page 1
    End page 7
    Language eng
    Abstract Background: There are few studies on ocular effects of indoor mould exposure in schools, especially in the tropics. Objective: To study associations between eye symptoms and tear film break up time (BUT) in students and demographic data and fungal DNA in schools. Methods: A school environment study was performed among randomly selected students in eight randomly selected secondary schools in Penang, Malaysia. Information on eye symptoms and demographic data was collected by a standardised questionnaire. BUT was measured by two methods, self-reported BUT (SBUT) and by the non-invasive Tearscope (NIBUT). Dust was collected by vacuuming in 32 classrooms and analysed for five fungal DNA sequences. Geometric mean (GM) for total fungal DNA was 7.31*104 target copies per gram dust and for aspergillus/Penicillium DNA 3.34*104 target copies per gram dust. Linear mixed models and 3-level multiple logistic regression were applied adjusting for demographic factors. Results: A total of 368 students (58%) participated and 17.4% reported weekly eye symptoms the last 3 months. The median SBUT and TBUT were 15 and 12 s, respectively. Students wearing glasses (OR 2.41, p = 0.01) and with a history of atopy (OR = 2.67; p = 0.008) had more eye symptoms. Girls had less eye symptoms than boys (OR = 0.34; p = 0.006) Indoor carbon dioxide in the classrooms was low (range 380–720 ppm), temperature was 25–30 ◦C and relative air humidity 70–88%. Total fungal DNA in vacuumed dust was associated with shorter SBUT (4 s shorter per 105 target copies per gram dust; p = 0.04) and NIBUT (4 s shorter per 105 target copies per gram dust; p < 0.001). Aspergillus/Penicillium DNA was associated with shorter NIBUT (5 s shorter per 105 target copies per gram dust; p = 0.01). Conclusion: Fungal contamination in schools in a tropical country can be a risk factor for impaired tear film stability among students.
    Keyword Tear film break up time (BUT)
    Eye symptoms
    Mould
    School environment
    Fungal DNA
    Copyright Holder Elsevier GmbH
    Copyright Year 2017
    Copyright type All rights reserved
    DOI 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.01.016
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    Created: Mon, 29 May 2017, 13:03:30 JST by Cheah, Swee Neo on behalf of UNU IIGH