Mould removal 'eases asthmas symptoms'

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Mould removal 'eases asthmas symptoms'

Sep 5 2007

ic Wales - United Kingdom*

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Asthma patients who get rid of mould in their homes see an

improvement in their symptoms, according to a study out today.

Researchers at Cardiff University's School of Medicine studied 182

people with asthma living in 164 mouldy houses across South Wales.

In half of the houses, which were confirmed as mouldy by a trained

observer, the mould was removed.

But in the remaining houses the mould was not removed for 12 months.

Dr Burr, of the School of Medicine's department of primary

care and public health, said: " In the houses where mould was

removed, the symptoms of asthma improved and the use of inhalers

decreased more than in the other houses.

" Removing mould also led to improvements in other symptoms:

sneezing, runny or blocked noses, and itchy-watery eyes.

" There was no clear effect on measurements of breathing, but this

may have been because patients used their inhalers as needed so that

they could always breathe freely. "

Versnel, Asthma UK's executive director of research and

policy, said: " The publication of this study adds to the increasing

bank of research that indoor mould may have a link with asthma,

however more work is needed in this area before definitive

conclusions can be drawn.

" Research into this area does, however, highlight the importance of

keeping your house dry and well ventilated. This can reduce exposure

to certain asthma triggers such as mould spores which are found in

damp places. "

Asthma UK figures show the prevalence of asthma in Wales is among

the highest in the world, with 260,000 people receiving treatment

for their asthma and the rate of hospital admissions for adults 12%

higher than anywhere else in the UK.

The study was funded by the charity Asthma UK, the Medical Research

Council, and the Wales Office of Research and Development.

The research is published in the September edition of the medical

journal Thorax.