Study: Connection found between significant moisture damage in the early childhood home and local inflammation of the lungs
Severe moisture damage in the main living areas of a home may increase the asthma-associated local inflammation in the lungs in children even after numerous years. This was the finding in a recent study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) published in the scientific journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology.
Previous studies have repeatedly found that significant water damage in the home may increase the risk of the development of asthma in children. Now, a connection was also observed with local lung inflammation associated with asthma for the first time. The result confirms previous data on the connection between moisture damage and asthma.
"According to the study, the exposure of small children to significant water damage in the home may lead to a local inflammation i.e. an elevated nitrogen oxide concentration of breath when exhaling that can still be observed at the age of six. The more serious the moisture damage, the higher the risk. However, moisture damage was not found to affect lung function, which was measured with expired lung volume measurements,” says Professor Juha Pekkanen.
Hundreds of risk factors for asthma
Asthma is a complex inflammatory disorder of the bronchial mucosa. Asthma patients get respiratory symptoms more easily than others from a wide range of exposures, including low quality of indoor air. Hundreds of factors in both our environment and our heritage increase the risk of acquiring asthma. Moisture damage is not a particularly strong risk factor for asthma. However, the additional risk caused by moisture damage can be avoided by taking care of the condition of buildings and indoor environments.
"Significant moisture damage should be repaired appropriately. This is particularly important in the main living spaces within homes, as this is where we spend most of our time for many years,” says Chief Researcher Anne Karvonen.
A total of 322 Finnish children living in Eastern and Central parts of Finland (regions of North Savo, North Karelia and Central Finland) participated in the study. When the participating children were around five months old, a research engineer conducted a building investigation for moisture damage in the home of each child. The children were followed up with questionnaires and a study visit at the age of six years.
The present study is part of the LUKAS Birth Cohort study, which aims to investigate the protective or harmful effects of microbial exposure in living environments in the development of children's asthma and allergic diseases.
More information
Early age exposure to moisture and mould is related to FeNO at the age of 6 years
Juha Pekkanen
Research Professor
THL and the University of Helsinki
tel. +358 (0)40 508 1077
[email protected]
Anne Karvonen
Chief Researcher
THL
tel. + 358 29 524 6325
[email protected]
