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Structural Home Defects Are the Leading Cause of Mold in Buildings: The Housing and Health Service Experience

Author

Listed:
  • Rachel Felipo

    (French Clean Air Association, 59120 Lille, France)

  • Denis Charpin

    (French Clean Air Association, 59120 Lille, France
    Department of Pulmonology and Allergy, Aix-Marseille University, 13005 Marseille, France
    Marseille Innovation—Hotel Technologique, 45 Rue Joliot-Curie, 13013 Marseille, France)

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the contribution of building problems to mold proliferation in dwellings. We investigated 503 dwellings of patients suffering from respiratory diseases, whose attending physicians had requested a home inspection if the area of mold was equal to at least one square meter. After careful visual evaluation and basic environmental measurements performed by a trained technician, environmental issues were classified into building defects, accidental water damage, and condensation. Data analysis demonstrated that building defects were the pre-eminent cause of mold proliferation. Among the building defects, water infiltration through leaks in roofs or walls was the leading cause. These results highlight the need for health professionals managing patients with respiratory diseases to be able to request a home inspection, and for city health authorities to commission professionals who can focus on building problems and find ways to address them.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel Felipo & Denis Charpin, 2022. "Structural Home Defects Are the Leading Cause of Mold in Buildings: The Housing and Health Service Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16692-:d:1001041
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