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Development of a Database to Manage and Analyze Publications
on the Microbial Ecology of Indoor Environments
Hal LevinBuilding Ecology Research Group
Janet MacherCalifornia Department of Public Health
What environmental factors affect the indoor microbial ecology?
Where is the data
How is the information recorded
Can the information be extracted for analysis
and comparison
Who would contribute to a publicly available
database or an information-sharing repository
www.microbe.net
Database Design (Farr and Farr, 2004)
Specimen database
• Document the occurrence of an organism
• In a particular place
• At a given time
• Design from the top down
• Purpose
• Subjects
• Specific data bits
Mendeley — Microbiology of the Built Environment
Bibliographic database (545 papers, 48 members)
• Journal citations
• Abstracts
• Related research
• Searchable
• www.mendeley.com/groups/844031/microbiology-of-the-built-environment/
Indoor
microbiome
Occupants
Bui
ldin
g in
terio
r
Fur
nish
ings
Act
iviti
e s
Building envelope
VentilationOutdoors
Database Design
Tables
• Citation
• Building type
• Occupants
• Environmental samples
• Sample analyses
•Microorganisms
Database Design (Farr and Farr, 2004)
Fields
• Describe the subject
• Comprised of the smallest logical unit
• Evolve as new pieces of information are
identified
• Consistent format and content
Database Design (Farr and Farr, 2004)
Tables
• Only fields that pertain to the same subject
• Avoid fields most often blank
• Duplicate data only as necessary to
establish relationships
• Include “lookup” or “authority” tables
Extraction of Information
Occupant demographics
• Number
• Gender
• Age
• Time / activity patterns
• Include animals and plants
http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp
Extraction of Information(Mendeley database)
Buildings (N = 95)
• Type
• 50 (53%) Residences
• 18 (8%) Offices
• Schools, commercial, transportation
• Location (outdoor environment)
• Time of year
• Age
• Ventilation
• Nutrients
• Water
• Temperature
• pH
www.epa.gov/iaq/iaqhouse.html
Extraction of Information
Environmental samples
• Type
• 59 (62%) Air
• 27 (28%) Surface (wipe or house dust)
• Locations
• Number
• Frequency
www.epa.gov/iaq/base/
Extraction of Information
Sample analysis
• Type
• 64 (67%) Culture
• 25 (26%) PCR
• How much detail needed?
Extraction of Information
Microorganisms
• Identification
• General (group)
• Genus
• Species
• …
• Quantification
Descriptors of Buildings, Occupants, Environments
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation (BASE)
• 100, randomly selected office buildings
• Building and ventilation system characteristics
• Building occupant demographics, symptoms, and perceptions
• Environmental and comfort measurements
• IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM)
• Computer software for indoor air quality in commercial buildings
Program Considerations
Data format
• Text
• Digit
Transferability
• Import and export
Data entry
• Read and highlight information
• Enter into tables
• Consistent terms
• Home, house, apartment, condo = Residence
• Check / audit
Sorting and searching
Ideally, electronic publications of the future will provide data in formats that can be reformatted for multiple uses
Example — Dampness and Mold
Inspector-reported indicators
• Visible water damage or mold
• Musty odor
• Moisture meter measurement
• Rotting wood
• Peeling paint
• Leaks
Air samples
• Time of year
• Location
Fungi
• Types
• Concentrations
Acknowledgements
Sloan Foundation Indoor Environment Program: grant to UC Davis for microbenet project – www.microbe.net
Janet Macher for advice and preparation of the abstract and slides
Any of you who can send references to papers of interest, comments on our collection on Mendeley
