Mold Exposure And More Childhood Hospital Admissions

Don Vicendese et al. Bedroom air quality and vacuuming frequency are associated with repeat child asthma hospital admissions. Journal of Asthma, 2015 In Press.

Reginald Quansah et al. Residential dampness and molds and the risk of developing asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE November 2012;7:e47526.

An Australian study analyzed indoor air quality in the homes of 22 children with 2 or more asthma related hospitalizations and 22 children with only 1 asthma hospital admission. Significantly greater airborne levels of the airborne molds (fungi) Cladosporium and yeasts (various species) were reported in the homes of children with multiple asthma admissions. In addition, the children with repeated asthma admissions were significantly more likely to live in carpeted bedrooms and were significantly more likely to live in homes which were vacuumed more than twice weekly. Vacuuming can be useful for reducing carpet levels of dust and mold, however, too frequent or too agitating cleaning can increase airborne levels of dust and molds.

Indoor molds produce hundreds of known allergens which can worsen asthma and rhinitis. A meta-analysis of 16 published studies reported that indoor exposure to visible molds was associated with a 29% increased risk of asthma, while indoor exposure to water damage/ dampness was associated with a 33% increased asthma risk.

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