Building-Related Respiratory Symptoms Can Be Predicted with Semi-Quantitative Indices of Exposure to Dampness and Mold

Details

• Personal Author:
  Attfield MD ; Cox-Ganser, Jean M. ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; Park JH ; Schleiff, Patricia L.
• Description:
  Using a semi-quantitative mold exposure index, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigated 13 college buildings to examine whether building-related respiratory symptoms among employees are associated with environmental exposure to mold and dampness in buildings. We collected data on upper and lower respiratory symptoms and their building-relatedness, and time spent in specific rooms with a self-administered questionnaires. Trained NIOSH industrial hygienists classified rooms for water stains, visible mold, mold odor, and moisture using semi-quantitative scales and then estimated individual exposure indices weighted by the time spent in specific rooms. The semi-quantitative exposure indices significantly predicted building-related respiratory symptoms, including wheeze [odds ratio (OR) = 2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14.5], chest tightness (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.14.6), shortness of breath (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.26.1), nasal (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.34.7) and sinus (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.24.1) symptoms, with exposureresponse relationships. We found that conditions suggestive of indoor mold exposure at work were associated with building-related respiratory symptoms. Our findings suggest that observational semi-quantitative indices of exposure to dampness and mold can support action to prevent building-related respiratory diseases. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Geology Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Dampness Building Exposure-assessment Indoor-air-pollution Indoor-environmental-quality Indoor Air Quality Microorganisms Mold Molds Odors Pulmonary-system-disorders Questionnaires Respiratory-irritants Respiratory-system-disorders Respiratory Symptoms Semi-quantitative Exposure Index Visual-perception

  More +
• ISSN:
  0905-6947
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  425-433
• Volume:
  14
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20025566
• Citation:
  Indoor Air 2004 Dec; 14(6):425-433
• Contact Point Address:
  Ju-Hyeong Park, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Field Studies Branch, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  gzp8@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Indoor Air
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0e5b7e7fef003e0c15396edd9b34c44c62ea7a83fc549096afb387b159d073f8c2d0888146131a25a3b3ab968e054b93c3462773b4aeeb8322531011b0f849c0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/196866/cdc_196866_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 166.67 KB ]