ERJ
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Permissions
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Pirhonen, I
Right arrow Articles by Pekkanen, J
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Pirhonen, I
Right arrow Articles by Pekkanen, J
Eur Respir J 1996; 9: 2618-2622
Copyright © ERS Journals Ltd 1996

Original Articles

Home dampness, moulds and their influence on respiratory infections and symptoms in adults in Finland

I Pirhonen, A Nevalainen, T Husman, and J Pekkanen

The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of mouldy homes and their association with respiratory symptoms and diseases in a subarctic climate. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 2,000 males and females, aged 25-64 yrs, living in the county of Kuopio, Finland. A total of 1,521 (76%) responded and 1,460 were selected for the final analysis. The prevalence of homes with visible mould was 4%; with the odour of mould 5%; with damp spots, visible mould or the odour of mould 15%; and with moisture/ water damage, damp spots, visible mould or the odour of mould 23%. The number of reports of bronchitis, common cold, atopy, allergic rhinitis, rhinitis, fever and chills, hoarseness, fatigue, difficulties in concentration, lumbar backache and stomach ache were strongly associated with living in a damp home. Bronchitis, hoarseness and difficulties in concentration had the strongest associations, with adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence limits) of: 2.04 (1.49-2.78), 2.23 (1.37-3.63) and 2.17 (1.35-3.50), respectively. After controlling for a possible reporting bias by excluding those subjects reporting lumbar backache and recurrent stomach pain, eye irritation and tiredness remained significant. In conclusion, living in a home with mould problems may increase the risk of respiratory infections and symptoms in adults.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ThoraxHome page
M I Gunnbjornsdottir, K A Franklin, D Norback, E Bjornsson, D Gislason, E Lindberg, C Svanes, E Omenaas, E Norrman, R Jogi, et al.
Prevalence and incidence of respiratory symptoms in relation to indoor dampness: the RHINE study
Thorax, March 1, 2006; 61(3): 221 - 225.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ThoraxHome page
T Duelien Skorge, T M L Eagan, G E Eide, A Gulsvik, and P S Bakke
Indoor exposures and respiratory symptoms in a Norwegian community sample
Thorax, November 1, 2005; 60(11): 937 - 942.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Occup. Environ. Med.Home page
C Janson, D Norback, E Omenaas, T Gislason, L Nystrom, R Jogi, E Lindberg, M Gunnbjornsdottir, E Norrman, T Wentzel-Larsen, et al.
Insomnia is more common among subjects living in damp buildings
Occup. Environ. Med., February 1, 2005; 62(2): 113 - 118.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CVIHome page
J. Jussila, J. Pelkonen, V.-M. Kosma, J. Maki-Paakkanen, H. Komulainen, and M.-R. Hirvonen
Systemic Immunoresponses in Mice after Repeated Exposure of Lungs to Spores of Streptomyces californicus
Clin. Vaccine Immunol., January 1, 2003; 10(1): 30 - 37.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Epidemiol RevHome page
H. A. Kolstad, C. Brauer, M. Iversen, T. Sigsgaard, and S. Mikkelsen
Do Indoor Molds in Nonindustrial Environments Threaten Workers' Health? A Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence
Epidemiol. Rev., December 1, 2002; 24(2): 203 - 217.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Appl. Environ. Microbiol.Home page
S. M. Nieminen, R. Karki, S. Auriola, M. Toivola, H. Laatsch, R. Laatikainen, A. Hyvarinen, and A. von Wright
Isolation and Identification of Aspergillus fumigatus Mycotoxins on Growth Medium and Some Building Materials
Appl. Envir. Microbiol., October 1, 2002; 68(10): 4871 - 4875.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Appl. Environ. Microbiol.Home page
S. Engelhart, A. Loock, D. Skutlarek, H. Sagunski, A. Lommel, H. Farber, and M. Exner
Occurrence of Toxigenic Aspergillus versicolor Isolates and Sterigmatocystin in Carpet Dust from Damp Indoor Environments
Appl. Envir. Microbiol., August 1, 2002; 68(8): 3886 - 3890.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Appl. Environ. Microbiol.Home page
R. L. Gorny, T. Reponen, K. Willeke, D. Schmechel, E. Robine, M. Boissier, and S. A. Grinshpun
Fungal Fragments as Indoor Air Biocontaminants
Appl. Envir. Microbiol., July 1, 2002; 68(7): 3522 - 3531.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur Respir JHome page
M.K. Purokivi, M-R. Hirvonen, J.T. Randell, M.H. Roponen, T.M. Meklin, A.I. Nevalainen, T.M. Husman, and H.O. Tukiainen
Changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines in association with exposure to moisture-damaged building microbes
Eur. Respir. J., December 1, 2001; 18(6): 951 - 958.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ThoraxHome page
M Kilpeläinen, E O Terho, H Helenius, and M Koskenvuo
Home dampness, current allergic diseases, and respiratory infections among young adults
Thorax, June 1, 2001; 56(6): 462 - 467.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 BMJHome page
C. G Wolff, D. G Schroeder, and M. W Young
Effect of improved housing on illness in children under 5 years old in northern Malawi: cross sectional study
BMJ, May 19, 2001; 322(7296): 1209 - 1212.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1996 by the European Respiratory Society.