Dampness in buildings is believed to increase asthma and allergy risks. Studies have shown that the risk of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis is higher in damp homes. This is partly because dampness encourages proliferation of micro-organisms such as moulds, bacteria and mites, some of which are well established and documented toxin producers or allergens. Dampness in homes and workplaces should therefore be controlled in order to reduce the risk of occupants developing respiratory problems.
Indoor Mould And Bacteria
Proliferation of indoor mould and bacteria in dwelling places could lead to ill-health of the occupants. Indoor microbial growth and dampness has been associated with a number of respiratory problems including:
- Respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.
- Respiratory infections such as aspergillosis.
- Allergic diseases, including allergic asthma and bronchitis.
- Non-inflammatory, unspecific symptoms, e.g., eye and skin irritation, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
The best way to control microbial growth in a building is to ensure the building is well maintained and any water leaks are repaired promptly.
Once mould has grown in a building, the solution to the problem is to have the water source identified and repaired and the mould removed. This can be expensive especially if the work is to be performed by professionals.
To avoid expensive mould investigation and removal, the homeowners and property managers should:
- Continuously monitor for any water leaks and have them repaired promptly.
- Continuously monitor for mould growth so as to detect it before it spreads.
Do you have a mould question? Send it to My Question.
Mold in Homes Doubles Risk of Asthma
Exposure to dampness and mold in homes as much as doubles the risk of asthma development in children, according to a study published today in the March issue of the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). Researchers studied 1,984 Finnish children aged 1 to 7 years over a six-year period to see if they developed asthma. Data collection included a baseline survey administered in March 1991, as well as a follow-up survey in March 1997, asking questions about the child’s health, parents’ health, parent’s highest education level, and details of the child’s environment including exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and presence of feathery or furry pets.
The study focused particularly on four indicators or moisture or mold in homes, including mold odor, visible mold, visible moisture, and history of water damage. The presence of mold odor proved to be the only significant indicator of asthma development.
A a total of 138 children, or 7.2% of the study population, developed asthma during the study period. Having a parent with a history of allergies increased susceptibility in children. Mold odor increased the risk, the study found, independent of parents’ medical histories. In fact, children living in homes with mold odor during the initial study period were more than twice as likely to develop asthma in the following 6 years.
“These findings strengthen evidence that exposure to molds increases the risk of developing asthma in childhood,” says lead author Jouni Jaakkola, director of the University of Birmingham’s Institute for Occupational and Environmental Medicine. “They also show the importance of heredity-children of parents with asthma have a two-fold risk of asthma compared with children of nonasthmatic parents.”
Children who were exposed to moisture or mold in homes were also slightly more likely to be exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, to have feathery or furry pets, and to have parents with a lower education level. The study adds to the body of evidence linking asthma with exposure to cigarette smoke.
“This study is important for families everywhere,” says Dr. Jim Burkhart, science editor for EHP. “Anyone with young children in the home should be aware of the potentially harmful effects of long-term exposure to mold and this potential link to asthma in children.”
In addition to Jaakkola, contributing authors included Bing-Fang Hwang of the Environmental Epidemiology Unit at the University of Helsinki in Finland, and Niina Jaakkola of the Department of Health Care Administration at Diwan College of Management in Taiwan.
Funding sources for the research as reported by the authors included the Ministry of the Environment, the National Agency for Welfare and Health, the Medical Research Council of the Academy of Finland, and The Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation.
EHP is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. EHP is an Open Access journal. More information is available online at http://www.ehponline.org.
Environmental Health Perspectives (NIEHS)
PO Box 12233, MD EC-15
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233
USA
Phone 919-541-2359
niehs.nih.gov/drcpt/ehpb/home.htm
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