UBC study links problem to asthma, other conditions

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First Nation homes plagued by mould

Canada.com - Don Mills,Ontario,Canada

UBC study links problem to asthma, other conditions

http://www.canada.com/First+Nation+homes+plagued+mould/1281669/story.h

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Canwest News ServiceFebruary 12, 2009

First Nations people have long complained that their homes are making

them sick. Now, they've got scientific proof to back them up.

A team of researchers at the University of B.C. is preparing to

publish a study showing a direct link between mould-infested homes in

one First Nation community and an increased incidence of asthma,

bronchitis and other respiratory ailments.

Bartlett, an associate professor of environmental health at

UBC, said the findings highlight an " enormous problem " in Canada

where many First Nations communities have problems with overcrowding

and poorly constructed, mould-infested homes.

Bartlett said the mould takes its greatest toll on infants and the

elderly, because they have developing or weakened immune systems and

tend to spend the most time inside the homes. For infants, early

exposure may lead to long-term allergies or asthma, she said.

During the study, investigators went into the First Nations community

to research how the homes were constructed and the age of the

materials. They tested for mould, dust mites and other particles

inside the house and they asked resident whether they used an inhaler

or suffered from a respiratory illness such as asthma or bronchitis.

When the researchers matched the tests with the study of the

residents, " indeed, we found a relationship between the amount of

mould and, for example, use of inhalers or respiratory symptoms. "

Bartlett did not get permission to name the First Nation

community. " (But) what we found is not unusual to that community, "

she said. " It's actually symptomatic of a lot of housing,

particularly on the coast of British Columbia. "