NZ homes likened to refugee camp huts

[Guest guest]

NZ homes likened to refugee camp huts

Stuff.co.nz - New Zealand*

By RUTH HILL - The Dominion Post Friday, 29 February 2008

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4419686a10.html

Three out of four Kiwi homes in some regions are cold, damp and

mouldy, putting New Zealand housing stock on a par with Palestinian

refugee camp shacks, a health expert says.

At a workshop in Wellington yesterday on the health effects of leaky

buildings, Associate Professor Jeroen Douwes of Massey University

cited a 2005 study, which found mould in 75 per cent of the 1310

households surveyed.

" This is comparable to a study of Palestinian refugee camps, where

the rate was 78 per cent. "

Nationally, about 35 per cent of New Zealand households report mould

in one or more rooms, compared with 18 per cent in Europe.

A survey by Otago University public health researchers of 33 peer-

reviewed studies found exposure to damp and mould raised the risk

for respiratory problems -wheezing, coughing and asthma - by 30 per

cent to 50 per cent.

Conservative estimates put the direct health costs of leaky

buildings in New Zealand at $61 million a year.

Public awareness of respiratory problems associated with damp houses

remained low, he said.

" This issue affects potentially tens of millions of people

worldwide, and there is a big case for more interventions and

research. "

University of Otago public health researcher Professor Philippa

Howden-Chapman, who chaired the workshop, said New Zealand's high

asthma rate could well be related to the incidence of damp houses.

Up to one in five New Zealanders suffer the chronic and sometimes

life-threatening respiratory condition. Wellington's Asthma Research

Group has found that asthmatics allergic to mould had much more

severe symptoms, and were almost twice as likely to end up in

intensive care.

The workshop, hosted by the University of Otago and partly funded by

Wellington and Auckland city councils, brought together health

experts, building industry, local bodies and government to discuss

health effects associated with leaky buildings. A second workshop

will be held in Auckland today

[Guest guest]

Well there go my romantic Lord of the Rings getaway

fantasies!

--- tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote:

> NZ homes likened to refugee camp huts

> Stuff.co.nz - New Zealand*

> By RUTH HILL - The Dominion Post Friday, 29 February

> 2008

>

> http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4419686a10.html

>

> Three out of four Kiwi homes in some regions are

> cold, damp and

> mouldy, putting New Zealand housing stock on a par

> with Palestinian

> refugee camp shacks, a health expert says.

>

>

> At a workshop in Wellington yesterday on the health

> effects of leaky

> buildings, Associate Professor Jeroen Douwes of

> Massey University

> cited a 2005 study, which found mould in 75 per cent

> of the 1310

> households surveyed.

>

> " This is comparable to a study of Palestinian

> refugee camps, where

> the rate was 78 per cent. "

>

> Nationally, about 35 per cent of New Zealand

> households report mould

> in one or more rooms, compared with 18 per cent in

> Europe.

>

> A survey by Otago University public health

> researchers of 33 peer-

> reviewed studies found exposure to damp and mould

> raised the risk

> for respiratory problems -wheezing, coughing and

> asthma - by 30 per

> cent to 50 per cent.

>

> Conservative estimates put the direct health costs

> of leaky

> buildings in New Zealand at $61 million a year.

>

> Public awareness of respiratory problems associated

> with damp houses

> remained low, he said.

>

> " This issue affects potentially tens of millions of

> people

> worldwide, and there is a big case for more

> interventions and

> research. "

>

> University of Otago public health researcher

> Professor Philippa

> Howden-Chapman, who chaired the workshop, said New

> Zealand's high

> asthma rate could well be related to the incidence

> of damp houses.

>

> Up to one in five New Zealanders suffer the chronic

> and sometimes

> life-threatening respiratory condition. Wellington's

> Asthma Research

> Group has found that asthmatics allergic to mould

> had much more

> severe symptoms, and were almost twice as likely to

> end up in

> intensive care.

>

> The workshop, hosted by the University of Otago and

> partly funded by

> Wellington and Auckland city councils, brought

> together health

> experts, building industry, local bodies and

> government to discuss

> health effects associated with leaky buildings. A

> second workshop

> will be held in Auckland today

>

>

>

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