U. Haverinen et al., Comparison of two-level and three-level classifications of moisture-damaged dwellings in relation to health effects, INDOOR AIR, 11(3), 2001, pp. 192-199
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Environmental Engineering & Energy
Journal title
INDOOR AIR-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND CLIMATE
A total of 630 randomly selected dwellings were surveyed for visible signs
of moisture damage by civil engineers, and questionnaire responses were col
lected from the occupants (a total of 1,017 adults) to analyse the associat
ion between moisture damage and occupant health. A three-level grading syst
em was developed, which took into account the number of damage sites in bui
ldings and estimated the severity of the damage. In the present study, this
grading system was tested as an improved model of moisture damage-related
exposure in comparison to a conventional two-category system: based on inde
pendent, technical criteria it also allowed dose-response to be estimated.
The questionnaire probed 28 individual health symptoms, based on earlier re
ported associations with building moisture and mould-related exposure. Crit
eria in evaluating the goodness of the selected exposure model were (1) dos
e-responsiveness and (2) higher risk compared to a two-level classification
. Dose-responsiveness was observed with the three-level classification in 7
, higher risk in 10, and both criteria in 5 out of 28 health symptoms. Two-
level classification had higher risk in 4 health symptoms. Dose-dependent r
isk increases for respiratory infections and lower respiratory symptoms, an
d recurrent irritative and skin symptoms were observed with the three-level
classification using symptom score variables. Although the results did not
unambiguously support the three-level model, they underline the importance
of developing more accurate exposure models in assessing the severity of m
oisture damage.