Effect of exposure to dampness and mould on resporatory health – a longitudinal, multi-country approach

Introduction: Adverse respiratory effects of exposure to mould and dampness at home have been documented in a number of mainly cross-sectional studies. The aim was to investigate the effect of concurrent versus long-term exposure to mould and/or dampness on respiratory allergies, considering several follow-ups from birth until adolescence. Methods: The study comprised 14384 subjects from 7 European birth cohorts within the MeDALL project. Exposure to mould and dampness as well as asthma (2 out of 3: physician-diagnosis ever, wheezing and/or asthma medication in the past 12 months) and symptoms of rhinoconjunctiv…