Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the occurrence of immun
oglobulin E sensitization to common environmental allergens (atopy) and new
allergic diseases among schoolchildren after starting school in a water-da
maged school building. The staff and pupils of a Finnish elementary school
with visible water damage and mold complained of respiratory and skin sympt
oms. The school building was examined and widespread moisture damage was fo
und. A control school with no visible water damage was also examined. No in
dication of exceptional microbial growth was found in the samples taken fro
m this school.
Methods: History of allergic diseases and the year of diagnosis were establ
ished by a questionnaire. IgE antibodies to the common environmental allerg
ens were determined from randomly selected groups from both schools.
Results: Elevated IgE values were significantly more common among the expos
ed children, as was the occurrence of new allergic diseases after the child
ren exposed children, as was the occurrence of new allergic diseases after
the started at the school.
Conclusions: The odds ratios for the IgE values of the study groups indicat
ed a possible relationship between exposure to microorganisms and IgE sensi
tization. Exposure to spores, toxins, and other metabolites of molds may ha
ve complex results with unknown immunogenic effects that may act as a nonsp
ecific trigger for allergic sensitization leading to the development of ato
py.