Book chapter
Bioaerosols
International Encyclopedia of Public Health, pp.210-218
Elsevier Inc, Second Edition
2017
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-803678-5.00032-1
Abstract
Bioaerosols are airborne compounds or microfragments from plant or animal matter or from microorganisms but also comprise whole microorganisms that are either dead or alive. Exposure to these agents may cause infectious diseases, allergic diseases, acute toxic effects, respiratory diseases, neurological effects, and possibly cancer. Respiratory symptoms and disease are the most common health effects associated with noninfectious bioaerosols and include asthma, hay fever, organic dust toxic syndrome, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and chronic bronchitis. Bioaerosol exposure has also been demonstrated to adversely affect lung function and might play a role in sick building syndrome. Paradoxically, indoor exposure to moderate levels of bioaerosols has been suggested to reduce the risk of developing allergies and allergic asthma in early life. In this article we present an overview of the health effects associated with bioaerosol exposure in both the indoor and occupational environment. We also describe the major agents assumed to play a causal role in the development of bioaerosol-related health effects.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Bioaerosols
- Creators
- Jeroen Douwes - Massey University, Wellington, New ZealandWijnand Eduard - National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, NorwayPeter S Thorne - University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Publication Details
- International Encyclopedia of Public Health, pp.210-218
- Edition
- Second Edition
- DOI
- 10.1016/B978-0-12-803678-5.00032-1
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2017
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984000918902771
Metrics
203 Record Views