Lung function and symptoms in damp and mouldy buildings

Irritative and respiratory symptoms are reported from people working or living in damp and mouldy buildings, but signs of pulmonary involvement have not yet been found. We studied 522 teachers working in 15 primary schools with various degrees of dampness and mould growth. Symptoms, spirometry, CO-diffusion, and bronchial challenge was compared to classification of dampness and mould growth in or outside classrooms. No symptoms, no results from spirometry, or any diffusion changes were related to any exposure measures, but the bronchial responsiveness was greater in dry schools and the frequency of cough larger in dry and mechanically ventilated schools. Exposure to damp and mouldy buildings at school level seems not to influence irritative or lung symptoms or lung function. A higher bronchial reactivity in dry buildings and a higher frequency of cough in mechanically ventilated buildings indicates a possible bronchiolar irritation, which might be related to dust rather than moulds.