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Indoor dampness and respiratory health: what a research review found

A 2011 peer-reviewed review found consistent associations between indoor dampness or mold and respiratory and allergic effects. Associations are not individual diagnoses.

Published 2026-10-02

Source last verified: 2026-10-01

Who it is for

Researchers, schools, housing organizations, industry professionals

Location

United States

Application status

unverified

Mendell and colleagues reviewed epidemiologic evidence concerning damp indoor environments, mold, and respiratory or allergic outcomes. The review was published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2011 (PMID 21269928; DOI 10.1289/ehp.1002410).

The authors reported consistent associations between evident indoor dampness or mold and several respiratory and allergic effects. They also described uncertainty about specific causal agents and the usefulness of quantitative microbial measurements.

This is a review of research, not a new study, an individual risk prediction, or a treatment recommendation. An observed association does not establish the cause of a particular person’s symptoms. Read the original paper for methods, qualifications, and limitations.

Record updated 2026-10-02. See corrections policy.