Self-Reported Moisture or Mildew in the Homes of Head Start Children with Asthma is Associated with Greater Asthma Morbidity

Bonner, Sebastian; Matte, Thomas; Fagan, Joanne K.; Andreopoulos, Evie; Evans, David

doi:10.1007/s11524-005-9012-7

Cited by 19 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…9 This finding is consistent with many studies of inner city housing which have demonstrated higher levels of asthma triggers, including molds, than housing in general. [21][22][23][24][25][26] In conclusion, analysis of the 36 molds that make up the ERMI provided a more objective way to describe the mold burdens in homes. However, we recognize that each mold inspector has his/her own methods, years of experience, and equipment for finding mold growth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Correlation between ERMI Values and Other Moisture and Mold Assessments of Homes in the American Healthy Homes Survey

Vesper

McKinstry

Cox³

et al. 2009

J Urban Health

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The main objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) values in the Department of Housing and Urban Development American Healthy Homes Survey (AHHS) homes and an alternative analysis frequently used in mold investigations, i.e., the inspector's "walkthrough" assessment of visual or olfactory evidence of mold combined with occupant's answers to a questionnaire about mold odors and moisture. Homes in the highest ERMI quartile were in agreement with visual inspection and/or occupant assessment 48% of the time but failed to detect the mold in 52% of the fourth quartile homes. In about 7% of lowest ERMI quartile homes, the inspection and occupant assessments overestimated the mold problem. The ERMI analysis of dust from homes may be useful in finding hidden mold problems. An additional objective was to compare the ERMI values in inner city east-Baltimore homes, where childhood asthma is common, to the AHHS randomly selected homes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Correlation between ERMI Values and Other Moisture and Mold Assessments of Homes in the American Healthy Homes Survey

Vesper

McKinstry

Cox³

et al. 2009

J Urban Health

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show abstract

“…1 Greater asthma morbidity, specifically a larger number of hospitalizations due to asthma, more frequent episodes of wheezing, and more frequent night symptoms due to asthma have been associated with the presence of moisture, mildew, and cockroach allergen in homes. 22,23 The presence of these allergens may be more common in deteriorating housing, which is often marked by water leaks, holes that pests can pass through, poor ventilation, and peeling paint.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Housing Type and Housing Quality in Urban Children with Asthma

et al. 2010

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The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between type and quality of housing and childhood asthma in an urban community with a wide gradient of racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and housing characteristics. A parent-report questionnaire was distributed in 26 randomly selected New York City public elementary schools. Type of housing was categorized using the participants' addresses and the Building Information System, a publicly-accessible database from the New York City Department of Buildings. Type of housing was associated with childhood asthma with the highest prevalence of asthma found in public housing (21.8%). Residents of all types of private housing had lower odds of asthma than children living in public housing. After adjusting for individual-and community-level demographic and economic factors, the relationship between housing type and childhood asthma persisted, with residents of private family homes having the lowest odds of current asthma when compared to residents of public housing (odds ratio: 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.22, 1.21). Factors associated with housing quality explain some of the clustering of asthma in public housing. For example, the majority (68.7%) of public housing residents reported the presence of cockroaches, compared to 21% of residents of private houses. Reported cockroaches, rats, and water leaks were also independently associated with current asthma. These findings suggest differential exposure and asthma risk by urban housing type. Interventions aimed at reducing these disparities should consider multiple aspects of the home environment, especially those that are not directly controlled by residents.

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“…Conditions that may indicate underlying housing disrepair, such as mold (which was strongly but not significantly associated with detectable allergen and rodent sighting), have previously been associated with increased allergen and with greater asthma morbidity 18,20 as well as with pest infestation. Having unwashed dishes, and having crumbs on the floors because of lack of a working vacuum cleaner may provide access to food and water that could attract rodents, but which are potentially amenable to intervention at modest cost.…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

Rodent Allergen in Los Angeles Inner City Homes of Children with Asthma

et al. 2007

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Recent studies have examined the presence of mouse allergen in inner city children with asthma. Researchers have found high levels of rodent allergen in homes sampled in the northeast and midwest United States, but there has been considerable variation between cities, and there have been few studies conducted in western states. We evaluated the frequency of rodent sightings and detectable mouse allergen and the housing conditions associated with these outcomes in inner city homes in Los Angeles. Two hundred and two families of school children, ages 6-16 living in inner city neighborhoods, participated in the study. Families were predominantly Latino (94%), and Spanish speaking (92%). At study entry, parents completed a home assessment questionnaire, and staff conducted a home evaluation and collected kitchen dust, which was analyzed for the presence of mouse allergen. Fifty-one percent of homes had detectable allergen in kitchen dust. All 33 families who reported the presence of rodents had detectable allergen in the home and were also more likely to have increased levels of allergen compared to those who did not report rodents. Unwashed dishes or food crumbs, lack of a working vacuum, and a caretaker report of a smoker in the home were all significantly associated with a greater risk of rodent sightings or detectable allergen (PG0.05). Detached homes were significantly more likely to have detectable allergen. The prevalence of allergen is common enough that it may have public health implications for asthmatic children, and detectable allergen was not routinely identified based on rodent sightings. Many of the predictors of rodent allergen are amenable to low-cost interventions that can be integrated with other measures to reduce exposure to indoor allergens.

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Self-Reported Moisture or Mildew in the Homes of Head Start Children with Asthma is Associated with Greater Asthma Morbidity

Cited by 19 publications

References 12 publications

Correlation between ERMI Values and Other Moisture and Mold Assessments of Homes in the American Healthy Homes Survey

Correlation between ERMI Values and Other Moisture and Mold Assessments of Homes in the American Healthy Homes Survey

The Role of Housing Type and Housing Quality in Urban Children with Asthma

Rodent Allergen in Los Angeles Inner City Homes of Children with Asthma

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