WHO Publishes First Indoor Air Quality Guidelines on Dampness and Mould

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WHO Publishes First Indoor Air Quality Guidelines on Dampness and Mould

euro.who.int

by Copenhagen and Bonn

16 July 2009

Today, WHO publishes its first guidelines on indoor air quality, addressing

dampness and mould. (1) They are the result of a rigorous two-year review of the

currently available science by 36 leading experts worldwide, coordinated by the

WHO Regional Office for Europe. The authors conclude that occupants of damp or

mouldy buildings, both private and public, have up to a 75% greater risk of

respiratory symptoms and asthma. The guidelines recommend the prevention or

remediation of dampness- and mould-related problems to significantly reduce harm

to health.

" As people spend most of their daily lives in homes, offices, schools, health

care facilities or other buildings, the quality of the air they breathe indoors

is critical for their health and well-being, " says Dr Srdan Matic, Unit Head,

Noncommunicable Diseases and Environment at the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

" For the first time, these guidelines offer guidance to public health and other

authorities on how to ensure safety and healthy conditions in buildings. We

believe that this work will contribute to improving the health of people around

the world. "

The book is the first in a series of WHO guidelines on indoor air quality. They

are intended for worldwide use, to protect health under various environmental,

social and economic conditions. Future publications addressing selected

chemicals and combustion products are being prepared. Together, the guidelines

will comprise the first-ever comprehensive evidence-based recommendations to

tackle indoor air pollution, one of the major causes of death and disease

worldwide.

Globally, about 1.5 million deaths each year, mostly among women and children in

developing countries, are associated with the indoor combustion of solid fuels.

In the European Union (EU) alone, combustion, chemicals from building materials

and dampness cause an annual loss of over 2 million years of healthy life due to

premature death or to chronic diseases, such as asthma and cardiovascular

diseases.

In many EU countries, 20–30% of households have problems with dampness. Strong

evidence indicates that this is a risk to health. In damp conditions, hundreds

of species of bacteria and fungi grow indoors and emit spores, cell fragments

and chemicals into the air. Exposure to these contaminants is associated with

the incidence or worsening of respiratory symptoms, allergies, asthma and

immunological reactions. Children are particularly susceptible. According to

recent evidence, 13% of childhood asthma in developed countries in the WHO

European Region could be attributable to damp housing.

Knowledge of indoor air pollutants is the key to enabling action to prevent

related health effects and maintain clean air. Many of these actions are beyond

the power of individual building users and occupants, and must be taken by

public authorities. The guidelines recommend measures to ensure that buildings

are well designed, constructed and maintained, and to make adequate housing and

occupancy policies. Building owners are responsible for providing healthy

workplaces or living environments, free of moisture and mould, by ensuring

adequate insulation. Occupants are responsible for managing the use of water,

heating and ventilation to avoid excess humidity.

" In the absence of clear evidence, building standards and regulations have not

sufficiently targeted prevention and control of excess moisture. The new

guidelines are essential, as they provide reference criteria for what

constitutes healthy indoor air, " concludes Dr Michal Krzyzanowski, Regional

Adviser, Noncommunicable Diseases and Environment at the WHO Regional Office for

Europe, and the leader of the WHO project to draw up the guidelines. " More than

100 studies on the health effects of damp environments were reviewed in the

preparation process. This body of evidence forms the basis of the guidelines and

provides a solid foundation for action. "

http://www.euro.who.int/document/E92645.pdf

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