Damp Indoor Environment Health Risks

Aka: Damp Indoor Environment Health Risks, Mold Exposure, Mold Health Effects

advertisement

II. Pathophysiology

  1. See Mycotoxin
  2. Damp environments have multiple health risks
    1. Mold
    2. House Dust mites
    3. Cockroaches
    4. Rodents
    5. Microbial growth
  3. Mold growth requirements
    1. Temperature: 40-100 degrees F
    2. Higher relative humidity
  4. Most common mold contaminants
    1. Cladosporium
    2. Altemaria
    3. Penicillium
    4. Aspergillus

III. Symptoms: Mold and damp environment exposures

  1. Rhinorrhea
  2. Cough
  3. Pharyngitis

IV. Complications

  1. Asthma Exacerbation
  2. Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
  3. Allergic Rhinitis

V. Diagnosis: Evaluation of Mold Exposure

  1. No standards of universal guidelines
  2. Clean-up is often done empirically without testing
    1. Most cost effective option as testing is costly
  3. Possible guidelines
    1. American Industrial Hygiene Association (2001)
    2. Indoor mold levels should be less than outdoor levels
  4. Criteria for health harm
    1. Patient must have come in contact with agent
  5. Measurements
    1. Visual inspection (most important)
    2. Surface sampling (Tape, surface wipe, dust, material)
    3. Indoor air sampling (Vacuum, Anderson, Culture)

VI. Prevention

  1. Fix leaking plumbing and leaks in building envelope
  2. Watch for condensation and wet spots
  3. Prevent condensation
  4. Vent moisture from appliances to outside
  5. Maintain relative humidity <60%
  6. Clean and dry wet or damp spots within 48 hours

VII. Resources

  1. Institute of Medicine Report on Damp Indoor Spaces

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

These images are a random sampling from a Bing search on the term "Damp Indoor Environment Health Risks." Click on the image (or right click) to open the source website in a new browser window. Search Bing for all related images

Related Topics in Environmental Injury

advertisement