Health issues in relation to building dampness in European social housing

Scientific evidence exists of an association between dampness and mould in buildings and of an increased risk of health effects for occupants, usually associated with the respiratory system. It is difficult to establish the exact prevalence of residential dampness, but according to WHO, it is likely to be in the order of 10-50%.  
The aim of this study is to examine the frequency of indoor dampness in social housing in different European countries, and whether dampness in these residential buildings is related to health issues such as asthma or allergies. Both, dampness (condensation on windows and /or walls and mould growth) and symptoms were surveyed by standardized questionnaires filled-out by the household occupants. In total, 215 residences are included in the study. Results indicate that dampness is around 16% and that mould is significantly related to asthma or other respiratory symptoms and allergies (odds ratio (OR) around 2.6)).