TY - JOUR T1 - Dampness, mould, onset and remission of adult respiratory symptoms, asthma and rhinitis JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.01921-2018 SP - 1801921 AU - Juan Wang AU - Mihkel Pindus AU - Christer Janson AU - Torben Sigsgaard AU - Jeong-Lim Kim AU - Mathias Holm AU - Johan Sommar AU - Hans Orru AU - Thorarinn Gislason AU - Ane Johannessen AU - Randi J. Bertelsen AU - Dan Norbäck Y1 - 2019/01/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2019/03/06/13993003.01921-2018.abstract N2 - The question addressed by the study Is dampness and indoor mould associated with onset and remission of respiratory symptoms, asthma and rhinitis among adults?Materials and methods Associations between dampness, mould and mould odour at home and at work and respiratory health were investigated in cohort of 11 506 adults from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia. They answered a questionnaire at baseline and ten years later, with questions on respiratory health, home and work environment.Results Baseline water damage, floor dampness, mould and mould odour at home were associated with onset of respiratory symptoms and asthma (ORs from 1.23 to 2.24). Dampness at home during follow up was associated with onset of respiratory symptoms, asthma and rhinitis (ORs from 1.21 to 1.52). Dampness at work during follow up was associated with onset of respiratory symptoms, asthma and rhinitis (ORs from 1.31 to 1.50). Combined dampness at home and at work increased the risk of onset of respiratory symptoms and rhinitis. Dampness and mould at home and at work decreased remission of respiratory symptoms and rhinitis.The answer to the question Dampness and mould at home and at work can increase onset of respiratory symptoms, asthma and rhinitis, and decrease remission.Dampness and mould at home and in the workplace building can increase onset and decrease remission of respiratory symptoms, doctor diagnosed asthma and rhinitis among adults. Our study adds new evidence on the health significance of dampness and mould.FootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.Conflict of interest: Dr. Johannessen has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Wang has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Pindus has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Norbäck has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: TG has no conflict of interestConflict of interest: Dr. Sigsgaard has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Holm has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Bertelsen has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Janson has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Sommar has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Orru has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Kim has nothing to disclose. ER -