[EMERGING]Emerging
Endotoxin, ergosterol, muramic acid, and fungal DNA measured in school dust against rhinitis reports
In classroom dust, specific molecular species of endotoxin were reported in association with rhinitis while total endotoxin showed an inverse association.
How to read this
This library reports what studies found. An entry describes a study's design, its findings in its own terms, and its limits. Nothing here is a claim about what a Sage Co. home does, delivers, or prevents.
Last reviewed August 30, 2026.
What they studied
- Dust sampling in classrooms, analyzed for endotoxin by chain length, ergosterol, muramic acid, and fungal DNA.
- Questionnaire assessment of rhinitis and sick building syndrome symptoms among students.
- Statistical association between each measured marker and the reported outcomes.
What they found
- C14 3-hydroxy endotoxin was reported in association with rhinitis symptoms.
- Total endotoxin was reported with an inverse association to the same outcomes.
- The authors reported that different endotoxin molecular species showed different directions of association.
What this study does not establish
- Cross-sectional; symptoms were self-reported.
- Dust markers are proxies for inhalation exposure.
- Opposing associations complicate interpretation and are not explained by the study design.
- This entry reports the study. It is not a statement about any building Sage Co. designs or constructs.
Source
Norbäck D, Hashim JH, Markowicz P, Cai G-H, Hashim Z, Ali F, Larsson L (2016). Endotoxin, ergosterol, muramic acid and fungal DNA in dust from schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia — associations with rhinitis and sick building syndrome (SBS) in junior high school students. Science of the Total Environment 545–546:95–103.
endotoxinschoolsdust samplingrhinitis
Elsewhere under Indoor Air Quality
- Cognitive test scores measured against CO2, ventilation, and VOC levels in an office setting
- Toxicological review of microbial volatile organic compounds in moisture-damaged buildings
- Acute responses measured in a controlled human exposure to 1-octen-3-ol
- Dopamine handling and neurodegeneration measured in model systems exposed to 1-octen-3-ol
- Classroom microbial VOC measurements compared against reported respiratory symptoms in pupils
- Measured dwelling microbial VOCs compared against sick building syndrome reports in three cities
- Review asking whether some fungal volatile compounds meet the definition of mycotoxins
- Airborne gram-negative bacteria and endotoxin measured across office buildings with differing symptom rates
- Proinflammatory mediators measured in cell lines exposed to indoor bacteria and fungal spores
- Dust fungi and endotoxin measured against respiratory symptoms in a water-damaged office building
- Chemical marker analysis used to detect microbial colonization in water-damaged building materials
- Airborne macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins measured in water-damaged indoor environments
- Satratoxin G and H measured in indoor air of a water-damaged dwelling
- Mycotoxin survey of building material samples from water-damaged buildings
- Systematic review of airborne mycotoxin exposure across environments and tasks