Caroline Shorter, Wellington Asthma Research Group, Our people, University of Otago, Wellington, University of Otago, New Zealand

Caroline-Shorter---Research-Fellow BSc, MSc (Hons), PhD

Senior Research Fellow

Contact details

Department of Medicine
University of Otago Wellington
PO Box 7343
Wellington 6242
New Zealand

Tel +64 4 385 5541 ext 6714

Research interests

My research area involves investigating sites and exposure of occupants to fungi and allergens in indoor built environments, looking specifically at how allergens accumulate and are removed from textiles in homes. My research projects have included applications of biocides to textiles to kill house dust mites, house dust mite allergen and fungal spore accumulation and disturbance from different flooring constructions, types and levels of fungi in wool and synthetic bedding and the effect of carpet construction and wear on the removal of allergen by vacuuming.

My current research role is with the Wellington Asthma Research Group, working on the HRC funded HOME study, which examines what housing factors may be associated with new onset wheezing in children.

I am also conducting PhD research on fungal levels in the home and the relationship to children’s respiratory health. This is particularly topical because of the worldwide increase in allergic diseases such as asthma over the last few decades. Identification of indoor allergens, their sites of accumulation and an individual’s exposure levels are all critical to understanding how they can be reduced in the indoor environment.

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Publications

Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Keall, M., Pierse, N., Baker, M. G., Cunningham, C., … Aspinall, C., Bennett, J., Bierre, S., … Chisholm, E., Davies, C., Fougere, G., Fraser, B., Fyfe, C., … Halley, C., … Olin, C., Ombler, J., O'Sullivan, K., Pehi, T., Penny, G., … Randal, E., Riggs, L., Robson, B., Ruru, J., Shaw, C., … Teariki, M. A., Telfar Barnard, L., Tiatia, R., … Viggers, H., … Zhang, W. (2023). He Kāinga Oranga: Reflections on 25 years of measuring the improved health, wellbeing and sustainability of healthier housing. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Advance online publication. [Review].

Bennett, J., Shorter, C., Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., Wilson, N., Crane, J., Douwes, J., Cunningham, C., … Summers, J., … Baker, M. G., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2022). Indoor air quality, largely neglected and in urgent need of a refresh. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1559), 136-139. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz

Shorter, C., Crane, J., Barnes, P., Kang, J., Honeywill, C., Robertson, O., O'Sullivan, K., Telfar-Barnard, L., Pierse, N., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2022). The cost of achieving healthy temperatures in children's bedrooms: Evidence from New Zealand. Energy Policy, 164, 112861. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2022.112861

Walker, G. J., Stelzer-Braid, S., Shorter, C., Honeywill, C., Wynn, M., Willenborg, C., Barnes, P., Kang, J., Pierse, N., Crane, J., Howden-Chapman, P., & Rawlinson, W. (2022). Viruses associated with acute respiratory infection in a community-based cohort of healthy NZ children. Journal of Medical Virology, 94, 454-460. doi: 10.1002/jmv.25493

Jermy, M., Bennett, J., Chen, J., Taptiklis, P., Shorter, C. (2021, October). Reducing the risk of Covid-19 transmission through the use of air purifiers. Public Health Expert blog. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/pubhealthexpert/reducing-the-risk-of-covid-19-transmission-through-the-use-of-air-purifiers/

Shorter, C. (2009). Methods for measuring fungi indoors. In P. Howden-Chapman, J. Bennett & R. Siebers (Eds.), Do damp and mould matter? Health impacts of leaky homes. (pp. 61-68). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts.

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Kristono, G. A., Shorter, C., Pierse, N., Crane, J., & Siebers, R. (2019). Endotoxin, cat and house dust mite allergens in electrostatic cloths and bedroom dust. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene, 16(1), 89-96. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2018.1536827

Journal - Research Article

Shorter, C., Crane, J., Pierse, N., Barnes, P., Kang, J., Wickens, K., … Stanley, T., … Howden-Chapman, P., and the Wellington Research General Practicioner Research Network. (2018). Indoor visible mold and mold odour are associated with new-onset childhood wheeze in a dose-dependent manner. Indoor Air, 28(1), 6-15. doi: 10.1111/ina.12413

Journal - Research Article

Causer, S. M., Piper, C., Shorter, C. L., & Lewis, R. D. (2010). Replicating the cross-sectional distribution of house-dust mite allergen found in carpet. Journal of the Textile Institute, 101(1), 69-75. doi: 10.1080/00405000802260811

Journal - Research Article

Causer, S. M., Shorter, C. L., Lewis, R. D., & Siebers, R. W. (2008). Efficiency of vacuuming for the removal of cat allergen (Fel d 1) from worn and unworn wool carpets of different construction. Textile Research Journal, 78(2), 105-110.

Journal - Research Article

Causer, S., Shorter, C., & Sercombe, J. (2006). Effect of floorcovering construction on content and vertical distribution of house dust mite allergen, Der p I. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene, 3(4), 161-168. doi: 10.1080/15459620600572068

Journal - Research Article

Causer, S., & Shorter, C. (2004). Penetration of light into carpet, and responses of the European house-dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) to varying light intensity and diurnal cycle. Experimental & Applied Acarology, 34(3-4), 335-344. doi: 10.1007/s10493-004-1805-y

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

Shorter, C., Täubel, M., Pierse, N., Douwes, J., Howden-Chapman, P., Hyvärinen, A., & Crane, J. (2016). Objective assessment of domestic mold contamination using quantitative PCR. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 137(2), 622-624. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.06.039

Journal - Research Other

Siebers, R., Wu, F. F. F., Shorter, C., Pierse, N., & Crane, J. (2015). Effect of repeated freeze/thawing of household dust extracts on β-(1,3)-glucan levels. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene, 12(1), D1-D3. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2014.963590

Journal - Research Other

Causer, S. M., Botica, K. J., & Shorter, C. L. (2003). Removal of house-dust mites and Der p I during laundering of bedding. Allergy, 58(6), 531-532. doi: 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2003.00144.x

Journal - Research Other

Täubel, M., Shorter, C., Pierse, N., Hyvärinen, A., & Crane, J. (2014). Quantitative pcr determination of microbes in relation to observed measures of mould in homes. Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate. (pp. 797-799). International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate. [Full Paper]

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Karvonen, A. M., Täubel, M., Shorter, C., Pierse, N., Douwes, J., Pekkanen, J., … Howden-Chapman, P., Stanley, T., Barnes, P., & Crane, J. (2019). Moisture damage related fungal microbiota and new-onset wheezing in children. Allergy, 74(Suppl. 106), (pp. 225-226). doi: 10.1111/all.13959

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Shorter, C., Crane, J., Wickens, K., Pierse, N., Stanley, T., Barnes, P., Kang, J., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2014). Visible mould and dampness are associated with new onset wheezing in New Zealand children. Clinical & Translational Allergy, 4(Suppl. 1), P47. doi: 10.1186/2045-7022-4-s1-p47

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Other Research Output

Shorter, C. L. (2013). Fungi in New Zealand homes: Measurement, aerosolisation and association with children's health (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/4099

Awarded Doctoral Degree

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