Public Health and Economic Impact of Dampness and Mold

There is a rapidly growing body of scientific literature examining the relationship between dampness and mold in buildings and associated health effects. Reviews by expert groups in 3 Europe (Bornehag et al. 2001; Bornehag et al. 2004) and the United States (IOM, 2004) draw similar conclusions: There is sufficient scientific evidence to conclude that there is an association between dampness and mold in buildings and an increased risk of adverse health effects for building occupants. The most common health effects appear to be associated with the respiratory system, although a much broader array of health outcomes has been reported.