Research Plus

Mouldy workplaces

Damp and moisture damage in workplaces, public buildings and homes and has been associated with asthma symptoms and respiratory infections – a Finnish study, for example, identified mould as the most commonly reported cause of occupational asthma. This Cochrane systematic review finds only very low quality evidence that repairing mould-damaged office buildings reduces respiratory infections and asthma-related symptoms, and very low-quality evidence that ‘profound remediation’ of moisture-damaged schools does not reduce respiratory symptoms among school staff or schoolchildren. However, there is moderate quality evidence that remedial building work in houses reduces infections, asthma-related symptoms and use of asthma medication.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011; 9: article number CD007897

Tags asthma evidence based practice

Occupational Health at Work December/January 2011/2012 (vol. 08/4) pp40-41