EPA Funded Studies Link Dampness and Mold to Significant Respiratory Problems and to High Costs of Medical Treatment

EPA Funded Studies Link Dampness and Mold to Significant Respiratory Problems and to High Costs of Medical Treatment

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory conducted a meta-analysis which suggests that building dampness and mold are associated with increases of 30%-50% in respiratory and asthma related health outcomes. EPA funded this study, and a related analysis which estimates that 21% of asthma in the US is linked to exposures to mold and dampness in homes, and that this costs the nation an estimated $3.5 billion annually in treatment costs.

Access the Articles and Read the Abstracts online

Meta-analyses of the associations of respiratory health effects with dampness and mold in homes W. J. Fisk, Q. Lei-Gomez, M. J. Mendell, Indoor Air July 2007
www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2007.00475.x

Public health and economic impact of dampness and mold D. Mudarri and W. J. Fisk Indoor Air 17:3;226-235, June 2007www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2007.00474.x

Source: http://www.epa.gov/asthma01/news.html