International Journal of Immunology

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Exposure to Mould and Moisture Damage Is a Potential Risk Factor for the Development of Respiratory Diseases Opinion

Received: 17 July 2020    Accepted: 03 August 2020    Published: 10 August 2020
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Abstract

Adverse health effects due to indoor air moisture damage has been extensively studied already for thirty years. Expose to dampness microbiota (DM) in buildings is a risk factor for newly onset asthma and other respiratory problems. This exposure increases the rate of upper and lower respiratory tract infections because the function of the cilia cells and the integrity of mucosal layer becomes compromised. The breach of the first defense barrier of innate immunity leads to susceptibility to inhaled impurities and pathogens. Dampness and mould-associated asthma may present with several clinical peculiarities. This asthma may be resistant to treatment, the symptoms may exacerbate during periods with increased outdoor air humidity and rainfalls and this asthma may be associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has been generally recognized that persons sensitized to DM should avoid new and repeated exposure to moldy environment. This recommendation is important especially during the current SARS-CoV2 pandemic.

DOI 10.11648/j.iji.20200803.11
Published in International Journal of Immunology (Volume 8, Issue 3, September 2020)
Page(s) 38-41
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Mold Damage, Asthma, Respiratory Symptoms, COVID19, SARS-CoV2

References
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[2] Valtonen V. Clinical Diagnosis of the Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Review of the Literature and Suggested Diagnostic Criteria. Front Immunol. 2017 Aug 10; 8: 951. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00951. eCollection 2017.
[3] Hyvönen S, Syrjälä H. Asthma Case Cluster during Renovation of a Water-Damaged and Toxic Building. Microorganisms 2019, 7: 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7120642.
[4] Jaakkola MS, Lajunen TK, Jaakkola JJK. Indoor mold odor in the workplace increases the risk of Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome: a population-based incident case-control study. Clin Transl Allergy. 2020 Jan 15; 10: 3. doi: 10.1186/s13601-019-0307-2. eCollection 2020.
[5] Hurraβ J, Heinzow B, Aurbach U, ym. Medical diagnostics for indoor mold exposure. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2017; 220: 305-328.
[6] Tuuminen T, Lohi J. Revising the criteria for occupational mould-related disease: arguments, misconceptions, and facts. EMJ Allergy Immunol. 2018; 3 (1): 128-35.
[7] Wolff H, Mussalo-Rauhamaa H, Raitio H ym. Patients referred to an indoor air health clinic: exposure to water-damaged buildings causes an increase of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage and a decrease of CD19 leucocytes in peripheral blood. Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 2009; 69 (5): 537-44. doi: 10.1080/00365510902770061.
[8] Holme JA, Øya E, Afanou AKJ, Øvrevik J, Wijnand E. Characterization and pro-inflammatory potential of indoor mold particles. Indoor Air. 2020 Feb 20. doi: 10.1111/ina.12656.
[9] Fisk WJ, Eliseeva EA, Mendell MJ. Association of residential dampness and mold with respiratory tract infections and bronchitis: a meta-analysis. Environ Health. 2010; 9: 72. doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-9-72.
[10] Mendell MJ, Mirer AG, Cheung K, Tong M, Douwes J. Respiratory and allergic health effects of dampness, mold, and dampness-related agents: a review of the epidemiologic evidence. Environ Health Perspect 2011; 119: 748-56.
[11] Quansah R, Jaakkola MS, Hugg TT, Heikkinen S, Jaakkola JK. Residential dampness and molds and the risk of developing asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2012; 7 (11): e47526. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047526.
[12] Jaakkola MS, Quansah R, Hugg TT, Heikkinen S, Jaakkola JK. Association of indoor dampness and molds with rhinitis risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013; 132: 1099-110.
[13] Miller JD, McMullin DR. Fungal secondary metabolites as harmful indoor air contaminants: 10 years on. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2014; 98: 9953-66.
[14] Cox-Ganser JM. Indoor dampness and mould health effects-ongoing questions on microbial exposures and allergic versus nonallergic mechanisms. Clin Exp Allergy. 2015; 45: 1478-82.
[15] Mudarri DH. Valuing the Economic Costs of Allergic Rhinitis, Acute Bronchitis, and Asthma from Exposure to Indoor Dampness and Mold in the US. J Environ Public Health. 2016; 2016: 2386596. doi: 10.1155/2016/2386596.
[16] Mendell MJ, Kumagai K. Observation-based metrics for residential dampness and mold with dose-response relationships to health: A review. Indoor Air. 2017; 27: 506-17.
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Author Information
  • Department of Pathology, Lappland Central Hospital, Rovaniemi, Finland

  • Pikkuj?tti, Medical Center for Children and Youth, Vantaa, Finland

  • Kruununhaka Medical Center, Helsinki, Finland

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  • APA Style

    Jouni Lohi, Tiina Tuomela, Tamara Tuuminen. (2020). Exposure to Mould and Moisture Damage Is a Potential Risk Factor for the Development of Respiratory Diseases Opinion. International Journal of Immunology, 8(3), 38-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20200803.11

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    ACS Style

    Jouni Lohi; Tiina Tuomela; Tamara Tuuminen. Exposure to Mould and Moisture Damage Is a Potential Risk Factor for the Development of Respiratory Diseases Opinion. Int. J. Immunol. 2020, 8(3), 38-41. doi: 10.11648/j.iji.20200803.11

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    AMA Style

    Jouni Lohi, Tiina Tuomela, Tamara Tuuminen. Exposure to Mould and Moisture Damage Is a Potential Risk Factor for the Development of Respiratory Diseases Opinion. Int J Immunol. 2020;8(3):38-41. doi: 10.11648/j.iji.20200803.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.iji.20200803.11,
      author = {Jouni Lohi and Tiina Tuomela and Tamara Tuuminen},
      title = {Exposure to Mould and Moisture Damage Is a Potential Risk Factor for the Development of Respiratory Diseases Opinion},
      journal = {International Journal of Immunology},
      volume = {8},
      number = {3},
      pages = {38-41},
      doi = {10.11648/j.iji.20200803.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20200803.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.iji.20200803.11},
      abstract = {Adverse health effects due to indoor air moisture damage has been extensively studied already for thirty years. Expose to dampness microbiota (DM) in buildings is a risk factor for newly onset asthma and other respiratory problems. This exposure increases the rate of upper and lower respiratory tract infections because the function of the cilia cells and the integrity of mucosal layer becomes compromised. The breach of the first defense barrier of innate immunity leads to susceptibility to inhaled impurities and pathogens. Dampness and mould-associated asthma may present with several clinical peculiarities. This asthma may be resistant to treatment, the symptoms may exacerbate during periods with increased outdoor air humidity and rainfalls and this asthma may be associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has been generally recognized that persons sensitized to DM should avoid new and repeated exposure to moldy environment. This recommendation is important especially during the current SARS-CoV2 pandemic.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    AB  - Adverse health effects due to indoor air moisture damage has been extensively studied already for thirty years. Expose to dampness microbiota (DM) in buildings is a risk factor for newly onset asthma and other respiratory problems. This exposure increases the rate of upper and lower respiratory tract infections because the function of the cilia cells and the integrity of mucosal layer becomes compromised. The breach of the first defense barrier of innate immunity leads to susceptibility to inhaled impurities and pathogens. Dampness and mould-associated asthma may present with several clinical peculiarities. This asthma may be resistant to treatment, the symptoms may exacerbate during periods with increased outdoor air humidity and rainfalls and this asthma may be associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has been generally recognized that persons sensitized to DM should avoid new and repeated exposure to moldy environment. This recommendation is important especially during the current SARS-CoV2 pandemic.
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