Ocular, airway, dermal symptoms related to building dampness

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1: Arch Environ Health. 2002 Jul-Aug;57(4):304-10. Related Articles,

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Ocular, airway, and dermal symptoms related to building dampness and

odors in dwellings.

Engvall K, Norrby C, Norback D.

Stockholm Office of Research and Statistics, Stockholm, Sweden.

karin.engvall@...

The authors examined the relationship between symptoms of Sick

Building Syndrome and reports of building dampness and odors. Two

hundred thirty-one multifamily buildings built prior to 1961 in

Stockholm, Sweden, contained a total of 4,815 dwellings. The authors

selected these buildings for study by stratified random sampling.

Occupants answered a postal questionnaire that assessed weekly

symptoms, personal factors, population density in each apartment,

water leakage in the preceding 5 yr, different types of odors, and

signs of high indoor air humidity. The response rate was 77%.

Independent information on building characteristics was gathered

from the building owners and the central building register in

Stockholm. Multiple logistic-regression analysis was applied and

odds ratios were calculated, with adjustments for age, gender,

current smoking, hay fever, population density, type of ventilation,

and ownership of the building. In total, 22% reported at least 1

sign of dampness, and 32% reported odor in the dwelling.

Condensation on windows, high air humidity in the bathroom, moldy

odor, and water leakage were reported from 6.8%, 8.8%, 5.7%, and 13%

of the dwellings, respectively. A combination of odor and signs of

high humidity was related to an increased occurrence of all symptoms

(odds ratios = 2.2-3.6). Similar findings were observed for a

combination of odors and a history of water leakage in the past 5 yr

(odds ratios = 1.2-4.4). Symptoms increased with the number of signs

of dampness. The study indicated that dampness in dwellings, with

emissions of odorous compounds, are associated with an increase in

symptoms consistent with Sick Building Syndrome.

PMID: 12530596 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=12530596 & dopt=Abstract