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Besides allergies and asthma, breathing air that contains high concentrations of fungal spores can cause other illnesses. The spores of a number of different types of mould may contain toxins which, when breathed in over a long period of time may result in a kind of poisoning. One such fungus, named Stachybotrys chartarum (sometimes called Stachybotrys alra), produces a potentially toxic chemical in its spores, which can be absorbed by the body when the spores are breathed in. This mould, which typically appears as sooty black patches on very wet drywall and other papery materials, has been linked to a wide range of serious illness in adults, and in several alarming, recent cases where extensive contamination was present, to fatal lung haemorrhage in infants.(James Scott, Ph.D. student reprinted by permission from The Tenant, Fall 1996, Toronto)
The relationship between moisture or mould observations in houses and the state of health of their occupants.

Koskinen OM, Husman TM, Meklin TM, Nevalainen AI.

National Public Health Institute, Division of Environmental Health, Kuopio, Finland.

This work was conducted in order to study how the health of adults is affected by the presence of moisture or mould in the home. A random sample of 310 houses in Finland was studied during the years 1993-1994. The houses were investigated for visual signs of moisture by a surveyor, and observations of mould were reported by the occupants. A moisture problem was observed in 52% and a mould problem in 27% of the houses. Health data was collected by means of a postal questionnaire from 699 adults. Exposure to moisture was significantly associated with sinusitis, acute bronchitis, nocturnal cough, nocturnal dyspnoea and sore throat, and the exposed inhabitants had significantly more episodes of common cold and tonsillitis. Exposure to mould was significantly associated with common cold, cough without phlegm, nocturnal cough, sore throat, rhinitis, fatigue and difficulties in concentration. Building-related moisture or mould increased the risk of upper and lower respiratory infections and symptoms as well as of nonrespiratory symptoms.

PMID: 10624768 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Respiratory health effects of home dampness and molds among Canadian children.

Dales RE, Zwanenburg H, Burnett R, Franklin CA.

Health Protection Branch, Health and Welfare Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

In 1988, the authors conducted a questionnaire-based study on the health effects of the indoor environment in 30 Canadian communities. This paper focuses on the association between the respiratory health of young children and home dampness and molds. A total of 17,962 parents or guardians of schoolchildren received a questionnaire, and 14,948 (83.2%) questionnaires were returned. Children living in mobile homes, tents, and boats were excluded as were those with cystic fibrosis, leaving 13,495 children included in the study group. The housing stock was distributed as follows: 81% were one-family detached homes, 6% were one-family attached homes, and 13% were buildings for two or more families. Molds were reported in 32.4%, flooding in 24.1%, and moisture in 14.1% of the homes. Prevalences of all respiratory symptoms were consistently higher in homes with reported molds or dampness; i.e., adjusted odds ratios ranged from 1.32 (95% confidence interval 1.06-1.39) for bronchitis to 1.89 (95% confidence interval 1.58-2.26) for cough. The prevalence of home dampness or molds, 37.8%, indicates that it is an important public health issue. Further studies are required to elucidate the pathogenesis.

PMID: 1862803 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Adverse health effects among adults exposed to home dampness and molds .

Dales RE, Burnett R, Zwanenburg H.

Health Protection Branch, Health and Welfare Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

To investigate the association between home dampness and mold and health, questionnaires were administered through the primary school system to parents of school-aged children in six regions of Canada. The present report focuses on the symptoms of the 14,799 adults at least 21 yr of age. The overall response rate was 83%, and missing values for individual variables ranged from 3 to 8%. The presence of home dampness and/or molds (that is, damp spots, visible mold or mildew, water damage, and flooding) was reported by 38% of respondents. The prevalence of lower respiratory symptoms (any cough, phlegm, wheeze, or wheeze with dyspnea) was increased among those reporting dampness or mold compared with those not reporting dampness or mold as follows: 38 versus 27% among current smokers, 21 versus 14% among exsmokers, and 19 versus 11% among nonsmokers (all p values less than 0.001). This association persisted after adjusting for several sociodemographic variables (including age, sex, and region) and several other exposure variables (including active and passive cigarette smoke, natural gas heating, and wood stoves). The odds ratio between symptoms and dampness was 1.62 (95% confidence interval, 1.48 to 1.78) in the final model chosen. This association persisted despite stratification by the presence of allergies or asthma. Exposure to home dampness and mold may be a risk factor for respiratory disease in the Canadian population.

PMID: 2001058 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Damp housing conditions and respiratory symptoms in primary school children China .

Yang CY, Chiu JF, Chiu HF, Kao WY.

School of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan, R.O.C.

There is evidence that indoor air pollution contributes to the development of respiratory symptoms. This study examined the relationships between dampness in houses and respiratory symptoms in 4,164 primary school children in the subtropical rural areas of the Kaohsiung region, Taiwan. Dampness in homes was assessed by questionnaires that reported 1) general dampness, 2) mold or mildew inside the home, or 3) flooding (appearance of standing water within the home, water damage, or leaks of water into the building). Evidence for upper and lower respiratory symptoms were also collected by questionnaires. Recorded symptoms included cough, wheezing, pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma. Degrees of dampness were reported as 12.2%, 30.1%, and 43.4%, respectively by the parents or guardians of the study population. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was consistently higher in homes with indications of dampness than in non-damp homes. After adjustments for potential confounders, selected respiratory symptoms among the childhood population were significantly higher in damp than non-damp homes, with the exception of pneumonia. We conclude that dampness in the home is a strong predictor of and risk factor for respiratory symptoms and constitutes a significant public health problem in subtropical area.

PMID: 9292897 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]