HOME DAMPNESS/MOLD INCREASES CHILDHOOD ASTHMA RISK

Y Hu et al. Home dampness, childhood asthma, hay fever, and airway symptoms in Shanghai, China: Associations, dose-response relationships and lifestyle’s influences. Indoor Air, 2014, In Press

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Reginald Quansah et al. Residential dampness and molds and the risk of developing asthma: A systemic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE 2012;7:347526.

A 2012 review of 16 published studied reported that exposure to water damaged homes was associated with a 33% higher risk of asthma, while exposure to visible mold was associated with a 29% higher asthma risk (both of these increases were statistically very significant).

A recent huge study of 13,335 children (4 to 6 years old) in Shanghai reported that home exposure to visible mold damage was associated with 32% higher risk of asthma, 42% higher risk of wheeze, 43% higher risk of dry cough, and 36% higher risk of rhinitis (nasal congestion). (all of these increases were statistically very significant) Keeping the child’s room windows open at night and cleaning the child’s room frequently were associated with reductions in mold and water related problems.

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