title: Specific molds associated with asthma in water-damaged homes.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, USA. vesper.stephen@epa.gov
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Vesper
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McKinstry
authors.forename: Chin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Haugland
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kercsmar
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yike
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Schluchter
authors.forename: H Lester
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobolewski
authors.forename: Terrence M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Dorr G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Dearborn
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water