Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Current issue
  • ERJ Early View
  • Past issues
  • Authors/reviewers
    • Instructions for authors
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Open access
    • COVID-19 submission information
    • Peer reviewer login
  • Alerts
  • Podcasts
  • Subscriptions
  • ERS Publications
    • European Respiratory Journal
    • ERJ Open Research
    • European Respiratory Review
    • Breathe
    • ERS Books
    • ERS publications home

User menu

  • Log in
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
  • ERS Publications
    • European Respiratory Journal
    • ERJ Open Research
    • European Respiratory Review
    • Breathe
    • ERS Books
    • ERS publications home

Login

European Respiratory Society

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Current issue
  • ERJ Early View
  • Past issues
  • Authors/reviewers
    • Instructions for authors
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Open access
    • COVID-19 submission information
    • Peer reviewer login
  • Alerts
  • Podcasts
  • Subscriptions

Dampness, mould and endotoxin in primary schools and lung function in children: The international HITEA study

José Jacobs, Alicia Borras-Santos, Jan-Paul Zock, Esmeralda Krop, Bernadette Aalders, Juha Pekkanen, Martin Taubel, Anne Hyvarinen, Dick Heederik
European Respiratory Journal 2012 40: P4781; DOI:
José Jacobs
1Division of Environmental Epidemiology (EEPI), Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Alicia Borras-Santos
2Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jan-Paul Zock
2Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Esmeralda Krop
1Division of Environmental Epidemiology (EEPI), Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Bernadette Aalders
1Division of Environmental Epidemiology (EEPI), Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Juha Pekkanen
3Department Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Martin Taubel
3Department Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Anne Hyvarinen
3Department Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Dick Heederik
1Division of Environmental Epidemiology (EEPI), Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Respiratory health effects in relation to moisture in homes are well recognised, but little is known on effects of dampness in school environments. We have previously reported a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms in pupils from moisture damaged schools. Here we aim to study associations between dampness and visible mould in school buildings, endotoxin exposure and lung function in children.

We included 15 Spanish, Dutch and Finnish primary schools with and 10 without moisture, dampness and visible mould based on reports and inspections. Endotoxin in settled dust was measured in 237 classrooms. Acceptable forced spirometry tests were done in 2736 children aged 6-12 years. Associations between moisture, log-transformed endotoxin levels and lung function were assessed by multiple linear regression adjusted for gender, age, height, home moisture, ETS, parental education, technician, school and (for endotoxin analyses) school moisture status.

In the Netherlands and Finland, FEV1 and FEF25-75% tended to be higher in children attending damaged schools or classrooms with higher endotoxin levels. FEV1 was 39 (95%CI 5-72) ml higher in Dutch children attending damaged schools and in Finland FEV1 significantly increased with increasing endotoxin exposure. In Spain, FEF25-75% tended to be somewhat lower, but not statistically significant, in relation to school moisture status and increased endotoxin levels.

Our findings do not provide consistent evidence for adverse effects of moisture damage in the school environment on lung function in children. Heterogeneity across different geographical areas may be related to climate, ventilation characteristics and type of school building.

  • Epidemiology
  • Environment
  • Children
  • © 2012 ERS
Previous
Back to top
Vol 40 Issue Suppl 56 Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on European Respiratory Society .

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Dampness, mould and endotoxin in primary schools and lung function in children: The international HITEA study
(Your Name) has sent you a message from European Respiratory Society
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the European Respiratory Society web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Dampness, mould and endotoxin in primary schools and lung function in children: The international HITEA study
José Jacobs, Alicia Borras-Santos, Jan-Paul Zock, Esmeralda Krop, Bernadette Aalders, Juha Pekkanen, Martin Taubel, Anne Hyvarinen, Dick Heederik
European Respiratory Journal Sep 2012, 40 (Suppl 56) P4781;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero

Share
Dampness, mould and endotoxin in primary schools and lung function in children: The international HITEA study
José Jacobs, Alicia Borras-Santos, Jan-Paul Zock, Esmeralda Krop, Bernadette Aalders, Juha Pekkanen, Martin Taubel, Anne Hyvarinen, Dick Heederik
European Respiratory Journal Sep 2012, 40 (Suppl 56) P4781;
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Technorati logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Connotea logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
Full Text (PDF)

Jump To

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

More in this TOC Section

  • Clinico-radiological and functional assessment of respiratory symptomatics with either exposure to biomass fuel smoke or tobacco smoking
  • Burnt sugarcane harvesting is associated with short and long term alterations in systemic and pulmonary inflammatory markers
  • Systemic inflammatory profile associated with exposure time to burning sugarcane
Show more 6.2 Occupational and Environmental Health

Related Articles

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current issue
  • Archive

About the ERJ

  • Journal information
  • Editorial board
  • Reviewers
  • Press
  • Permissions and reprints
  • Advertising

The European Respiratory Society

  • Society home
  • myERS
  • Privacy policy
  • Accessibility

ERS publications

  • European Respiratory Journal
  • ERJ Open Research
  • European Respiratory Review
  • Breathe
  • ERS books online
  • ERS Bookshop

Help

  • Feedback

For authors

  • Instructions for authors
  • Publication ethics and malpractice
  • Submit a manuscript

For readers

  • Alerts
  • Subjects
  • Podcasts
  • RSS

Subscriptions

  • Accessing the ERS publications

Contact us

European Respiratory Society
442 Glossop Road
Sheffield S10 2PX
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 114 2672860
Email: journals@ersnet.org

ISSN

Print ISSN:  0903-1936
Online ISSN: 1399-3003

Copyright © 2022 by the European Respiratory Society