Respiratory morbidity and medical visits associated with dampness and air-conditioning in offices and homes.

[Guest guest]

Indoor Air. 2009 Feb;19(1):58- 67. Epub

2008 Dec 2. LinkOut

Respiratory morbidity and medical visits associated with dampness and

air-conditioning in offices and homes.

Sahakian

N, Park JH, -Ganser J.

Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute

for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

1095 Willowdale Road, town, WV 26505, USA. nsahakiancdc (DOT) gov

We used data from 4345 adult US residents who were part of a

2004 national random mail survey to investigate associations between dampness

and air-conditioning (AC) in homes and offices, and health outcomes, sick leave

due to respiratory symptoms and medical visits during the past 12 months. We

identified from this group 1396 office workers employed in professional,

executive, administrative, managerial or administrative support occupations.

Office workers reporting home dampness had an elevated prevalence of nasal

symptoms [prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.4, P = 0.01] and constitutional symptoms (PR

= 1.3, P = 0.01) in the previous year. Office workers reporting workplace

dampness had an elevated prevalence of sick leave attributed to respiratory

symptoms (PR = 1.3, P = 0.04) in the previous year. Office workers with home AC

were more likely to have visited a medical specialist in the previous year (PR =

1.3, P = 0.02). We did not find any statistically significant associations

between workplace AC and any of the health outcomes. We estimated an annual cost

of US$1.4 billion for excess respiratory- related sick leave among office

workers

with workplace dampness. Our study strengthens the evidence of a relationship

between dampness and health effects, and highlights the resulting economic

impact. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study adds to the literature on respiratory

morbidity associated with home and office exposures to mold and dampness. Public

health response to lessen these exposures will improve the health and well-being

of residents and workers as well as diminish the economic burden of lost work

time and medical costs.

PMID: 19076249 [PubMed - indexed for

MEDLINE]

[Guest guest]

The text I left below from your post I find interesting. If I read it

correctly, it says people are more likely to get sick from home a/c systems, not

work a/c systems. I wonder why? Could it be that large, industrial size a/c's

are better made, with better filter, or equipment that drains better? Jeff, do

you know?

>

Indoor Air. 2009 Feb;19(1):58- 67. Epub

> 2008 Dec 2. LinkOut

>

>

Office workers with home AC

> were more likely to have visited a medical specialist in the previous year (PR

=

> 1.3, P = 0.02). We did not find any statistically significant associations

> between workplace AC and any of the health outcomes.