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Fungal Exposure and IGg-levels of Occupants in Houses with and without Mold Problems
Hyvärinen A., M.Sc., Reiman M., Ph.D., Meklin1 T, M.Sc., Husman T., M.D, Vahteristo M, M.Sc., MD., Nevalainen A, Ph.D.

National Public Health Institute, Email: Anne.Hyvarinen@ktl.fi

The aim of the study was to evaluate the relevance of serum antifungal-IgG antibodies to reflect the individual´s exposure to building related fungi. The concentrations of viable fungi were higher and composition of fungal flora was different in the index houses with moisture problem compared to those in the reference houses. Positive IgG-findings were common in both groups, although higher antibody levels against most of the fungi were found in the study group than in the control group. However, compatibility between fungal flora found in each house and elevated IgG-levels of its occupants were seldom found in either of the groups. This study suggests that microbial sampling gives information of the building at the time of the measurements, whereas IgG-antibodies reflect long-term integrated exposure of an individual from total environment including the work place.