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Mold exposure and respiratory health in damp indoor environments.

Park-J-H; Cox-Ganser-JM

Front Biosci 2011 Jan; E3:757-771

http://dx.doi.org/10.2741/e284

20038250

Almost all modern buildings experience at least minor, and sometimes serious, water damage during their life span. Excess moisture in buildings becomes a critical factor for mold (fungal) proliferation in nutrient-rich environments. As a result, building occupants may be exposed to increased levels of microbial agents such as fungal spores, cell fragments, cell wall components, or toxins. Such exposures may result in various diseases and symptoms, both respiratory and non-respiratory. Respiratory health complaints are common in damp buildings and have been more thoroughly studied than non-respiratory complaints. Respiratory diseases and symptoms which may be produced by exposure to indoor fungi include asthma development, exacerbation of asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, cough, wheeze, dyspnea (shortness of breath), nasal and throat symptoms, and respiratory infections. In addition to these illnesses, rhinosinusitis and sarcoidosis in water-damaged building occupants are also drawing more scientific attention. In this article, we explore the evidence for adverse effects of fungal exposure on respiratory health in damp indoor environments and potential disease mechanisms related to the exposure.

Respiratory-system-disorders; Molds; Indoor-air-pollution; Indoor-environmental-quality; Fungi; Pulmonary-system-disorders; Lung-disorders; Microorganisms; Health-hazards; Biological-effects; Diseases

Ju Hyeong Park, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA

20110101

Journal Article

gzp8@cdc.gov

2011

1093-9946

DRDS

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