Specific molds associated with asthma in water-damaged homes.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine if specific molds were found in significantly higher concentrations in the water-damaged homes of asthmatic children compared with homes with no visible water damage.


METHODS
The mold concentrations in the dust in asthmatic children's bedrooms in water-damaged homes (N = 60) and control homes (N = 22) were measured by mold-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Two molds, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and Trichoderma viride, had significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentrations in asthmatics' homes compared with control homes and three other molds (Penicillium crustosum group, Stachybotrys chartarum, and Wallemia sebi) had P values <0.1.


CONCLUSIONS
A relative moldiness index was developed to predict the likely development of asthma in water-damaged homes in Cleveland.
Vesper
Stephen J
SJ
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, USA. vesper.stephen@epa.gov
McKinstry
Craig
C
Yang
Chin
C
Haugland
Richard A
RA
Kercsmar
Carolyn M
CM
Yike
Iwona
I
Schluchter
Mark D
MD
Kirchner
H Lester
HL
Sobolewski
John
J
Allan
Terrence M
TM
Dearborn
Dorr G
DG
D001249:Asthma / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014867:Water
D014867:Water