Home dampness and molds and occurrence of respiratory tract infections in the first 27 years of life: the Espoo Cohort Study

The role of residential dampness and molds in the occurrence of respiratory tract infections is not well understood. We assessed the relations between cumulative lifetime and time-specific dampness and mold exposures and the occurrence of upper and lower respiratory tract infections (URTI and LRTI) from pregnancy to 27 years of age in the prospective population-based Espoo Cohort Study (n = 2568). We assessed 3 questionnaire-based reports of residential exposure to water damage, moisture on the surfaces, visible mold and mold odor, and incidence rates of URTI and LRTI when children were 1-6, 7-13, and 21-27 years. We estimated adjusted incidence rate differences (aIRD) and ratios (aIRR) with their 95% CI. According to all the data combined from 3 follow-ups, home exposure to dampness and mold increased the risk of URTIs (aIRR 1.15 [95% CI, 1.10-1.21]) and LRTIs (aIRR 1.47 [95% CI, 1.21-1.79). An exposure-response pattern was observed, with each additional exposure time point particularly associated with an increased risk of LRTIs due to water damage (aIRR 2.13; 1.32-3.44) and mold odor (aIRR 2.04; 1.22-3.43). The occurrence of respiratory tract infections was associated with both presence and duration of residential dampness and mold exposure.