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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Marie Lynn Miranda, PhD¹, Wayne Thomann, DrPh², Jeffrey Davis, BS³, and Matthew Stiegel, BS¹. (1) Children's Environmental Health Initiative, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708-0328, (2) Director, Occupational and Environmental Safety Office, Duke University, 131 Env. Safety Building, Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, (3) Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, PO Box 90328, Durham, NC, NC 27708, 919-613-8708, davisja@duke.edu

Asthma, allergic reaction, symptomization, and sensitization are all common responses in susceptible children when exposed to environmental triggers such as airborne fungal spores. In 2000, 27% of North Carolina's middle school aged children reported asthma symptoms; 70% of children in the same age group had visited a clinic at least once for breathing difficulties or wheezing (The NC School Asthma Survey, 2000). Addressing the relationship between indoor air quality and respiratory health in children is an important research question, especially with children spending a majority of their time indoors. In response to the widening concern over childhood asthma, the Children's Environmental Health Initiative (CEHI) at Duke University targeted local elementary schools for outreach and education on asthma and allergen triggers. CEHI developed an assessment tool that underlines the importance of screening for known exposures in an environment where children are at risk of persistent exposure throughout their youth. Part of CEHI's assessment involved taking bioaeroallergen environmental samples on a room by room basis at an elementary school in Orange County, NC during the spring and fall of 2004, as well as the early summer and early fall of 2005. The assessment also used comments from parents, teachers, and school administrators to address possible problem areas for further examination. Innovative mechanisms for delivering the results of the sampling and analysis were developed and implemented. Comprehensive assessments that use ongoing sampling, communication, and active participation can be used as an effective tool for health policy making in schools.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Discover a sampling method designed for health policy formation in relation to fungal growth and HVAC operation in schools.
• 2.Learn about factors that can contribute to fungal growth in school classrooms and how to look for these “problem” areas.
• 3.Learn the effectiveness of establishing an ongoing relationship between researchers and school officials, teachers and parents of students and its use in sampling strategy design.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

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