Excess dampness and mold growth in homes: An evidence-based review of the aeroirritant effect and its potential causes

Allergy and Asthma Proceedings

Volumn 28, Issue 3, 2007, Pages 262-270

  Hope, Andrew P ^a,b   Simon, Ronald A ^a  

^a SCRIPPS CLINIC   (United States)

^b LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY   (United States)

Author keywords

Adverse health effect; Aeroirritant; Allergy; Evidence based; Fungi; Mold; Nonallergic rhinitis; Respiratory symptoms; Toxicity; Volatile organic compounds

Indexed keywords

ALLERGEN; ORGANIC COMPOUND;

ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASE; FUNGUS; GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND AGING; HUMAN; HUMIDITY; IMMUNOLOGY; INDOOR AIR POLLUTION; MICROBIOLOGY; MYCOSIS; MYCOTOXICOSIS; PATHOGENICITY; RESPIRATORY TRACT ALLERGY; RESPIRATORY TRACT DISEASE; REVIEW; SICK BUILDING SYNDROME;

AIR POLLUTION, INDOOR; ALLERGENS; ENVIRONMENTAL ILLNESS; FUNGI; HUMANS; HUMIDITY; MYCOSES; MYCOTOXICOSIS; ORGANIC CHEMICALS; RESPIRATORY HYPERSENSITIVITY; RESPIRATORY TRACT DISEASES; SICK BUILDING SYNDROME;

EID: 34447291102     PISSN: 10885412     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2500/aap.2007.28.3004     Document Type: Review

References (64)

1. Hardin BD, Kelman BJ, and Saxon A. Adverse human health effects associated with molds in the indoor environment. J Occup Environ Med 45:470-478, 2003.
2. Institute of Medicine Committee on Damp Indoor Spaces and Health. Damp indoor spaces and health. Clark NM, Ammann HM, Brunekreef B, et al (Eds). Washington: National Academy of Sciences, 183-269, 2004.
3. Khalili B, Montanaro MT, and Bardana EJ Jr. Inhalational mold toxicity: Fact or fiction? A clinical review of 50 cases. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 95:239-246, 2005.
4. Portnoy JM, Kwak K, Dowling P, et al. Health effects of indoor fungi. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 94:313-319, 2005.
5. Phillips B, Ball C, Sackett D, et al. Levels of Evidence and Grades of Recommendation. Oxford, UK: Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, 2001. Available online at www.cebm.net. Last accessed Jan. 10, 2007.
6. Hayward R (Electronic Ed). Users' Guides Interactive. Chicago, IL: JAMA Publishing Group, 2002. Available online at www.usersguides.org. Last accessed Jan. 10, 2007.
7. Gergen PJ, and Turkeltaub PC. The association of individual allergen reactivity with respiratory disease in a national sample: Data from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1976-80 (NHANES II). J Allergy Clin Immunol 90:579-588, 1992.
8. Huss K, Adkinson NF Jr, Eggleston PA, et al. House dust mite and cockroach exposure are strong risk factors for positive allergy skin test responses in the Childhood Asthma Management Program. J Allergy Clin Immunol 107:48-54, 2001.
9. Kattan M, Mitchell H, Eggleston P, et al. Characteristics of inner-city children with asthma: The National Cooperative Inner-City Asthma Study. Pediatr Pulmonol 24:253-262, 1997.
10. Lehrer SB, Hughes JM, Altman LC, et al. Prevalence of basidiomycete allergy in the USA and Europe and its relationship to allergic respiratory symptoms. Allergy 49:460-465, 1994.
11. Bruce CA, Norman PS, Rosenthal RR, et al. The role of ragweed pollen in autumnal asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 59:449-459, 1977.
12. Delfino RJ, Coate BD, Zeiger RS, et al. Daily asthma severity in relation to personal ozone exposure and outdoor fungal spores. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 154:633-641, 1996.
13. O'Hollaren MT, Yunginger JW, Offord KP, et al. Exposure to an aeroallergen as a possible precipitating factor in respiratory arrest in young patients with asthma. N Engl J Med 324:359-363, 1991.
14. Atkinson RW, Strachan DP, Anderson R, et al. Temporal associations between daily counts of fungal spores and asthma exacerbations. Occup Environ Med 63:580-590, 2006 (Epub Mar. 21, 2006).
15. Newson R, Strachan D, Corden J, et al. Fungal and other spore counts as predictors of admissions for asthma in the Trent region. Occup Environ Med 57:786-792, 2000.
16. Jacob B, Ritz B, Gehring U, et al. Indoor exposure to molds and allergic sensitization. Environ Health Perspect 110:647-653, 2002.
17. Garrett MH, Rayment PR, Hooper MA, et al. Indoor airborne fungal spores, house dampness and associations with environmental factors and respiratory health in children. Clin Exp Allergy 28:459-467, 1998.
18. Lin RY, and Williams KD. Hypersensitivity to molds in New York City in adults who have asthma. Allergy Asthma Proc 24:13-18, 2003.
19. Peraica M, Radic B, Lucic A, et al. Toxic effects of mycotoxins in humans. Bull World Health Organ 77:754-766, 1999.
20. Eadie MJ. Convulsive ergotism: Epidemics of the serotonin syndrome? Lancet Neurol 2:429-434, 2003.
21. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Update: Pulmonary hemorrhage/hemosiderosis among infants - Cleveland, Ohio, 1993-1996. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 49(9): 180-184, 2000.
22. Bush RK, Portnoy JM, Saxon A, et al. The medical effects of mold exposure. J Allergy Clin Immunol 117:326-333, 2006.
23. Brasel TL, Douglas DR, Wilson SC, et al. Detection of airborne Stachybotrys chartarum macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins on particulates smaller than conidia. Appl Environ Microbiol 71:114-122, 2005.
24. Engvall K, Norrby C, and Norback D. Ocular, airway, and dermal symptoms related to building dampness and odors in dwellings. Arch Environ Health 57:304-310, 2002.
25. Wan GH, and Li CS. Dampness and airway inflammation and systemic symptoms in office building workers. Arch Environ Health 54:58-63, 1999.
26. Wieslander G, Norback D, Nordstrom K, et al. Nasal and ocular symptoms, tear film stability and biomarkers in nasal lavage, in relation to building-dampness and building design in hospitals. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 72:451-461, 1999 Oct.
27. Koskinen OM, Husman TM, Meklin TM, and Nevalainen AI. The relationship between moisture or mould observations in houses and the state of health of their occupants. Eur Respir J 14:1363-1367, 1999.
28. Koskinen OM, Husman TM, Meklin TM, et al. Adverse health effects in children associated with moisture and mold observations in houses. Intl J Environ Health Res 9:143-156, 1999.
29. Pirhonen I, Nevalainen A, Husman T, et al. Home dampness, moulds and their influence on respiratory infections and symptoms in adults in Finland. Eur Respir J 9:2618-2622, 1996.
30. Saijo Y, Kishi R, Sata F, et al. Symptoms in relation to chemicals and dampness in newly built dwellings. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 77:461-470, 2004.
31. Zacharasiewicz A, Zidek T, Haidinger G, et al. Symptoms suggestive of atopic rhinitis in children aged 6-9 years and the indoor environment. Allergy 55:945-950, 2000.
32. Dales RE, and Miller D. Residential fungal contamination and health: Microbial cohabitants as covariates. Environ Health Perspect 107(suppl 3):481-483, 1999.
33. Bornehag CG, Sundell J, Hagerhed-Engman L, et al. "Dampness" at home and its association with airway, nose, and skin symptoms among 10,851 preschool children in Sweden: A cross-sectional study. Indoor Air 15(suppl 10):48-55, 2005.
34. Simoni M, Lombardi E, Berti G, et al. Mould/dampness exposure at home is associated with respiratory disorders in Italian children and adolescents: The SIDRIA-2 Study. Occup Environ Med 62:616-622, 2005.
35. Mommers M, Jongmans-Liedekerken AW, Derkx R, et al. Indoor environment and respiratory symptoms in children living in the Dutch-German borderland. Int J Hyg Environ Health 208:373-381, 2005.
36. Jaakkola JJ, Jaakkola N, and Ruotsalainen R. Home dampness and molds as determinants of respiratory symptoms and asthma in pre-school children. J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol 3(suppl 1):129-142, 1993.
37. Meyer HW, Wurtz H, Suadicani P, et al. Molds in floor dust and building-related symptoms in adolescent school children. Indoor Air 14:65-72, 2004.
38. Meklin T, Potus T, Pekkanen J, et al. Effects of moisture-damage repairs on microbial exposure and symptoms in schoolchildren. Indoor Air 15(suppl 10):40-47, 2005.
39. Rockwell W. Prompt remediation of water intrusion corrects the resultant mold contamination in a home. Allergy Asthma Proc 26:316-318, 2005.
40. Kercsmar CM, Dearborn DG, Schluchter M, et al. Reduction in asthma morbidity in children as a result of home remediation aimed at moisture sources. Environ Health Perspect 114:1574-1580, 2006.
41. Douwes J. (1-→3)-Beta-D-glucans and respiratory health: A review of the scientific evidence. Indoor Air 15:160-169, 2005.
42. Young SH, Robinson VA, Barger M, et al. Acute inflammation and recovery in rats after intratracheal instillation of a 1-→3-beta-glucan (zymosan A). J Toxicol Environ Health A 64:311-325, 2001.
43. Wan GH, Li CS, Guo SP, et al. An airbone mold-derived product, beta-1,3-Dglucan, potentiates airway allergic responses. Eur J Immunol 29:2491-2497, 1999.
44. Rylander R. Airway responsiveness and chest symptoms after inhalation of endotoxin or (1 fi 3)-β-D-Glucan. Indoor Built Environ 5:106-111, 1996.
45. Beijer L, and Rylander R. (1-→3)-beta-D-glucan does not induce acute inflammation after nasal deposition. Mediators Inflamm 2005:50-52, 2005.
46. Rylander R, Thorn J, and Attefors R. Airways inflammation among workers in a paper industry. Eur Respir J 13:1151-1157, 1999.
47. Eduard W, Douwes J, Mehl R, et al. Short term exposure to airborne microbial agents during farm work: Exposure-response relations with eye and respiratory symptoms. Occup Environ Med 58:113-118, 2001.
48. Wan GH, and Li CS. Indoor endotoxin and glucan in association with airway inflammation and systemic symptoms. Arch Environ Health 54:172-179, 1999.
49. Rylander R, Persson K, Goto H, et al. Airborne beta-1,3-glucan may be related to symptoms in sick buildings. Indoor Environ 1:263-267, 1992.
50. Roponen M, Seuri M, Nevalainen A, et al. Fungal spores as such do not cause nasal inflammation in mold exposure. Inhal Toxicol 14:541-549, 2002.
51. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, American Lung Association, The Consumer Product Safety Commission, and The American Medical Association. Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals. EPA 402-R-94-007, 1994.
52. Wieslander G, Norback D, and Edling C. Airway symptoms among house painters in relation to exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCS) - A longitudinal study. Ann Occup Hyg 41:155-166, 1997.
53. Cometto-Muniz JE, and Cain WS. Efficacy of volatile organic compounds in evoking nasal pungency and odor. Arch Environ Health 48:309-314, 1993.
54. Molhave L, Jensen JG, and Larsen S. Subjective reactions to volatile organic compounds as air pollutants. Atmos Environ 25A:1283-1293, 1991.
55. Alarie Y. Sensory irritation by airborne chemicals. CRC Crit Rev Toxicol 2:299-363, 1973.
56. Korpi A, Kasanen JP, Alarie Y, et al. Sensory irritating potency of some microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) and a mixture of five MVOCs. Arch Environ Health 54:347-352, 1999.
57. Cain WS, and Cometto-Muniz JE. Irritation and odor as indicators of indoor pollution. Occup Med 10:133-145, 1995.
58. Cometto-Muniz JE, and Cain WS. Relative sensitivity of the ocular trigeminal, nasal trigeminal and olfactory systems to airborne chemicals. Chem Senses 20:191-198, 1995.
59. van Thriel C, Kiesswetter E, Schaper M, et al. From neurotoxic to chemosensory effects: New insights on acute solvent neurotoxicity exemplified by acute effects of 2-ethylhexanol. Neurotoxicology 2006 (Epub ahead of print).
60. Hempel-Jorgensen A, Kjaergaard SK, Molhave L, et al. Sensory eye irritation in humans exposed to mixtures of volatile organic compounds. Arch Environ Health 54:416-424, 1999.
61. Pasanen AL, Korpi A, Kasanen JP, et al. Critical aspects on the significance of microbial volatile metabolites as indoor air pollutants. Environ Int 24:703-712, 1998.
62. Miller JD, LaFlamme AM, Sobol Y, et al. Fungi and fungal products in some Canadian homes. Int Biodeterior 24:103-120, 1988.
63. Ware JH, Spengler JD, Neas LM, et al. Respiratory and irritant health effects of ambient volatile organic compounds. The Kanawha County Health Study. Am J Epidemiol 137:1287-1301, 1993.
64. Wady L, and Larsson L. Determination of microbial volatile organic compounds adsorbed on house dust particles and gypsum board using SPME/GC-MS. Indoor Air 15(suppl 9):27-32, 2005.