Record Display for the EPA National Library Catalog

RECORD NUMBER: 5 OF 14

Main Title Home Dampness and Respiratory Morbidity in Children.
Author Brunekreef, B. ; Dockery, D. W. ; Speizer, F. E. ; Ware, J. H. ; Spengler., J. D. ;
CORP Author Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Dept. of Environmental Science and Physiology. ;Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.;Health Effects Research Lab., Research Triangle Park, NC.
Publisher c1989
Year Published 1989
Report Number EPA/600/J-89/407;
Stock Number PB90-245887
Additional Subjects Respiratory diseases ; Children ; Moisture content ; Epidemiology ; Public health ; Questionnaires ; Molds ; Fungi ; Reprints ; Respiratory function tests ; Cohort studies ; Spirometry ; Residence characteristics
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Status
NTIS  PB90-245887 Some EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. 07/26/2022
Collation 8p
Abstract
The study examined the relationship between measures of home dampness and respiratory illness and symptoms in a cohort of 4,625 eight- to 12-yr old children in six U.S. cities. Home dampness was characterized from questionnaire reports of mold or mildew damage inside the home, water damage to the home, and the occurrence of water on the basement floor. Symptoms of respiratory and other illness were collected by questionnaire. Pulmonary function was measured by spirometry. Signs of home dampness were reported in a large proportion of the homes. In five of the six cities, one or more of the dampness indicators were reported in more than 50% of the homes. The association between measures of home dampness and both respiratory and non-chest illness were both strong and consistent. Odds ratios for molds varied from 1.27 to 2.12, and for dampness from 1.23 to 2.16 after adjustment for maternal smoking, age, gender, city of residence, and parental education. The relationship between home dampness and pulmonary function was weak, with an estimated mean reduction of 1.0% in FEF associated with dampness and 1.6% with molds.