Phase II
Two investigators will visit each of the 400 homes twice during a three day period. . The first visit is to do a thorough building investigation of the home and the second visit is only for collecting the questionnaires and the measuring instruments.
The following activities are carried out at the first visit:
- A questionnaire is handed out.
The questionnaire concerns e.g. background information of the residence of the child.
- A thorough inspection of the residence. A pre-established checklist regarding e.g. building characteristics, mold, water damages and surface materials is attached
- Based on the size of the dwelling, up to Six (6) instruments will be placed in the home. The instruments measure air temperature, relative humidity and CO2 for a 72-hours period. The measurements will be used to calculate the air change rate and more.
- Four dust samples are taken. One from the living room floor and three in the child's sleeping room - one from the floor, one from above the floor e.g. door frames/other frames and one from the child's bed. The dust samples from the floor and bed are frozen and will be analyzed for microbial agents, mold, and allergens from pets and house dust mites. Dust samples from door frames/other frames (which have been airborne) are taken for analysis of phthalates. The materials collected in the residence will be analyzed by currently accepted chemical, biological and physical/microscopic methods appropriate to the sample contents. The investigation team will use state of the art methodologies currently approved or standardized by entities such as the ASTM, ASHRAE, ACGIH, and other consensus bodies.
- A clinical examination will be conducted on each participant, which will include blood drawn for IGE, skin prick test for allergies, urine for analysis for plasticizers and pesticides.
- The continuous measurements of temperature, relative humidity and CO2 are made with an Indoor Air Quality Monitor.
Dust will be stored in a secured freezer located in the TxAIRE lab, before being analyzed in the TxAIRE lab or other expert laboratories,
Data Processing:
Data will be used for analyses of associations between home environmental exposures and asthma. SPSS will be used.
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