Increased prevalence of atopy among children exposed to mold in a school building

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.