Lifetime childhood asthma prevalence (LCAP) percentages in Puerto Rico Health Regions (HR) are substantially higher in northeastern vs. southwestern HR. Higher average relative humidity in the northeast might promote mold and mite exposures and possibly asthma prevalence. To test this hypothesis, mold contamination, Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) values were measured in floor dust (n = 26) and dust mite allergen concentrations in bed dust (n = 14). For this analysis, the eight HR were divided into those with LCAP > 30% (n = 3) and < 30% (n = 5). The average ERMI value was significantly greater (Wilcoxon Rank Sum, p < 0.001) in high than in low LCAP HR (14.5 vs. 9.3). The dust mite antigens Der p 1, Der f 1, and Blo t 5 were detected in 90% of bed samples, but the concentrations were not significantly different in high vs. low LCAP HR. Mold exposures might partially explain the differences in LCAP HR in Puerto Rico. This dataset is not publicly accessible because: This was a study conducted by Columbia University researchers. It can be accessed through the following means: Contact: Matthew S. Perzanowski, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Environmental Health Sciences Mailman School of Public Health Columbia University (212) 305-3465. Format: This study was conducted by Columbia University. There is no dataset format. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Vesper , S., H. Choi, M. Perzanowski, L. Acosta, A. Divjan, B. Bolanos-Rosero, F. Rivera-Mariani, and G. Chew. Mold populations and dust mite allergen concentrations in house dust samples from across Puerto Rico. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH. Carfax Publishing Limited, Basingstoke, UK, 26(2): 198-207, (2016).

Each Table or Figure is covered on a seperate sheet in the EXCEL file, i.e., Table 1, Table 2, Table 3 and figure 1. Table 1 contains raw data for the number of cell equivalents per mg of dust and the resulting % occurence of each of the 36 ERMI molds, also the concnetration of each of the eRMI molds and the Geometric mean (GM) for the samples. Table 2 shows the data for the comparisons made for the average ERMI values in the first American Healthy Homes Survey (AHHS I) and AHHS II homes and in homes built before 1978 (Pre-1978) and homes built in 1978 or later (Post-1977). Table 3 contains the data used to generate the average summed logs of Group 1 mold populations (Group 1) and summed logs of Group 2 mold populations (Group 2) in the American Healthy Homes Survey II (AHHS II) homes built before 1978 (Pre-1978) and homes built in 1978 or later (Post-1977). And the Figure 1 Excel sheet shows the data used to produce the Kernel density estimate plots of the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) values for the homes sampled in AHHS I (n=1096) and AHHS II (n=694). This dataset is associated with the following publication: Vesper, S., L. Wymer, D. Cox, G. Dewalt, E. Pinzer, W. Friedman, and P.J. Ashley. The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index reveals changes in mold contamination in United States homes over time. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE. Taylor & Francis, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, USA, 18(1): 35-41, (2021).

ERMI-Like data for the 36 molds that make-up the ERMI panel. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Vesper, S., K.G. Libuit, N. Esguerra, and A. Cross. Assessment of mold contamination in hurricane-damaged homes in Houston, Texas after sanitization by volunteers. Annals of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Heighten Science Publications Inc. (HSPI), East Windsor, CT, USA, 6: 003-007, (2022).

ERMI analyses of dust samples from schools and homes in the study. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Howared, E.J., S. Vesper, B.J. Guthrie, C.R. Petty, V.A. Ramdin, W.J. Sheehan, J.M. Gaffin, P. Permaul, P.S. Lai, L.M. Bartnikas, A. Cunningham, M. Hauptman, D.R. Gold, S.N. Baxi, and W. Phipatanakul. Asthma Prevalence and Mold Levels in US Northeastern Schools. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, 9(3): 1312-1318, (2020).

ERMI analyses of dust samples from schools and homes in the study. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Howared, E.J., S. Vesper, B.J. Guthrie, C.R. Petty, V.A. Ramdin, W.J. Sheehan, J.M. Gaffin, P. Permaul, P.S. Lai, L.M. Bartnikas, A. Cunningham, M. Hauptman, D.R. Gold, S.N. Baxi, and W. Phipatanakul. Asthma Prevalence and Mold Levels in US Northeastern Schools. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, 9(3): 1312-1318, (2020).

EPA Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) source profile results for fine and coarse particulate matter. Inorganic fine and coarse particulate matter concentration data used in PMF models. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Khatri, S.B., C. Newman, J.P. Hammel, T. Dey, J.J. Van Laere, K.A. Ross, T. Anderson, S. Mukerjee, L. Smith, M. Landis, A. Holstein, and G. Norris. Associations of Air Pollution and Pediatric Asthma in Cleveland, Ohio. The Scientific World Journal. Hindawi Publishing Corporation, New York, NY, USA, 2021: 8881390, (2021).

No data generated. This dataset is not publicly accessible because: There was no new data generated. It can be accessed through the following means: None available. Format: Since this was a review article, no new data was generated. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Vesper , S. The relationship between environmental relative moldiness index values and asthma. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. Urban & Fischer Verlag Jena, Jena, GERMANY, 219(1): 233-238, (2016).

Background The morbidity and mortality from asthma have markedly increased since the late 1970s. The hospitalization rate, an important marker of asthma severity, remains substantial. Methods In adults with health care access, we prospectively studied 242 with asthma, aged 18–50 years, recruited from a random sample of allergy and pulmonary physician practices in Northern California to identify risk factors for subsequent hospitalization. Results Thirty-nine subjects (16%) reported hospitalization for asthma during the 18-month follow-up period. On controlling for asthma severity in multiple logistic regression analysis, non-white race (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1–8.8) and lower income (OR, 1.1 per $10,000 decrement; 95% CI, 0.9–1.3) were associated with a higher risk of asthma hospitalization. The severity-of-asthma score (OR, 3.4 per 5 points; 95%, CI 1.7–6.8) and recent asthma hospitalization (OR, 8.3; 95%, CI, 2.1–33.4) were also related to higher risk, after adjusting for demographic characteristics. Reliance on emergency department services for urgent asthma care was also associated with a greater likelihood of hospitalization (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.0–9.8). In multivariate analysis not controlling for asthma severity, low income was even more strongly related to hospitalization (OR, 1.2 per $10,000 decrement; 95% CI, 1.02–1.4). Conclusion In adult asthmatics with access to health care, non-white race, low income, and greater asthma severity were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization. Targeted interventions applied to high-risk asthma patients may reduce asthma morbidity and mortality.