Role of Residential Indoor Dampness and Mold as Determinants of Respiratory Symptoms among Adults

Adverse Respiratory health was found to be one among leading risks factors of the deaths globally and in India. As conditions are favorable for dampness, and indoor mold in low and middle income countries, studies associating them with respiratory health are much needed. Dampness, demographic profile, housing characteristics, and respiratory symptoms were assessed as cross-sectional measurements using validated questionnaires. Mold in indoor air were assessed using Standard Settle Plate technique using Malt Extract Agar as nutritional medium. Association of indoor mold and indoor dampness with respiratory symptoms was found using Multiple Logistic regression analysis. After adjusting for potential risk factors, Indoor mold, Cladosporium was found to be significantly associated with any one of the respiratory symptoms (AOR 5.0; 95% CI 2.7, 9.3), breathlessness (AOR 9.7; 95% CI 1.31, 71.3) and rhinitis (AOR 2.5; CI 1.2, 5.1). Self-reported indicators of dampness were found to have significant association with respiratory symptoms with reported ‘visible mold’ being associated with most of the respiratory symptoms. The findings identify the potential risk of dampness and indoor mold in provoking respiratory symptoms among the residents in a tropical developing country.