For many years people have know of the health problems associated with damp conditions. Many recent studies have been done to prove the link between damp, moldy conditions and health problems in both adults and also those most at risk children. Below is an exert from one such study and we have included some links to a few others.
State of the Science on Molds and Human Health Statement of Stephen C. Redd, M.D.
Chief, Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch
National Center for Environmental Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
More than 1,000 different kinds of indoor molds have been found in U.S. homes. Molds spread and reproduce by making spores, which are very small and lightweight, able to travel through air, capable of resisting dry, adverse environmental conditions, and hence capable of surviving a long time. Molds need moisture and food to grow, and their growth is stimulated by warm, damp, and humid conditions. Respiratory infections due to inhalation of the fungus Aspergillus have been documented mostly in immunocompromised individuals. Molds also have been associated with some cancers. Two mold-produced toxins (aflatoxins and ochratoxin A) have been classified by the National Toxicology Program as human carcinogens. In its 1993 report “Indoor Allergens,” the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that airborne fungal allergens were most often associated with allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis, allergic asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In its 2000 report “Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures,” IOM concluded that there is sufficient evidence of an association between exposure to mold and exacerbations of asthma. For people who are allergic to mold, common effects include hay-fever-like allergic symptoms. Certain individuals with chronic respiratory disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma) may experience difficulty breathing when exposed to mold. Also, people with immune suppression or underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections.
A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Adverse health effects among adults exposed to home dampness and molds - Health Protection Branch, Health and Welfare Canada
Home dampness and respiratory health status in european children - University of Wageningen, The Netherlands
The relationship between moisture or mould observations in houses and the state of health of their occupants - National Public Health Institute, Division of Environmental Health, Kuopio, Finland
Asthma Facts - NSW Health
