Health Effects of Indoor Fungal Bioaerosol Exposure

Abstract

Occupational and environmental health professionals are confronted with issues concerning the health effects of indoor fungal bioaerosol exposure. This article reviews current data on the health effects of indoor mold exposure and provides practical suggestions for occupational and environmental health practitioners regarding how best to manage these exposures based on published human studies. We conducted MEDLINE searches and reviewed all English language studies on indoor mold exposure (visible survey or objective sampling) and human health effects published from 1966 to November 2002. The main findings of the studies are analyzed in conjunction with plausible association of health effects and fungal exposure. Five case control studies, 17 cross-sectional surveys, and 7 case reports met the selection criteria. Current evidence suggests that excessive moisture promotes mold growth and is associated with an increased prevalence of symptoms due to irritation, allergy, and infection. However, specific human toxicity due to inhaled fungal toxins has not been scientifically established. Methods for measuring indoor bioaerosol exposure and health assessment are not well standardized, making interpretation of existing data difficult. Additional studies are needed to document human exposure-disease and dose-response relationships.

Assessment of Fungal Contamination in Moldy Homes: Comparison of Different Methods

“…(1,4) Various health effects, such as respiratory symptoms, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, are associated with mold exposure. (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) A case control study conducted in Europe suggested a relationship between increases in symptoms in asthmatic patients and increased mold and moisture problems in the home. (13) Other studies have shown that exposure to visible mold, or excessive moisture, which promotes mold growth, leads to an increase in allergic symptoms.…”

“…(6,21) However, the relationship between specific health effects and the mold spore concentration has not been well defined. (6) It has been criticized that the methodologies for sampling and analysis are neither …”

“…(13) Other studies have shown that exposure to visible mold, or excessive moisture, which promotes mold growth, leads to an increase in allergic symptoms. (6,8,(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) Toxicity caused by exposure to the metabolites of certain molds have also been linked to health effects. (6,21) However, the relationship between specific health effects and the mold spore concentration has not been well defined.…”

Workshop on the Sources, Quantification and Health Implications of Bioaerosols Workshop Report

“…Moreover, as described previously there currently are no standardised methods for assessing bioaerosol species and exposure, making interpretation of existing data difficult, particularly across studies. For indoor mold health effects the strongest link so far established is that inhaling mold spores in residential or occupational settings may cause allergic reactions (Engvall et al, 2001;Fung et al, 2003;Karvala et al, 2008). Other studies have also suggested a potential link between exposure to mold spores, including many Aspergillus species and the prevalence of asthmaand respiratory infections (Denning et al, 2006;Moorman et al, 2011;Mortensen et al, 2011).…”

Personal and microenvironmental concentrations of particles and microbial aerosol in relation to health symptoms among teachers

“…On the other hand, 37% (in number terms) of all outdoor air particles 40.2 mm in summer may be of biological origin (MatthiasMaser and Jaenicke, 1994). Although various bioaerosols (e.g., fungi, bacteria, and pollen) are present everywhere, indoor bioaerosols have been of interest because of their association with respiratory health effects (Peat et al, 1998;Fung and Hughson, 2003). Also, allergic sensitization to both outdoor air microbes and many workplace allergens have been reported (Lacey and Crook, 1988).…”