Dampness and airway inflammation and systemic symptoms in office building workers

To evaluate dose-response relationships between airway inflammation/systemic symptoms and dampness exposure, we conducted a self-reported questionnaire study on risk factors among 1 237 employees in 19 air-conditioned office buildings in the Taipei area. The odds ratio for eye irritation was 1.34 when either stuffy odor or mold was present in the buildings. The odds ratio increased to 1.72 when both stuffy odor and mold were present, to 3.14 when water damage was also present, and to 5.03 when four dampness exposure factors were present. Dampness in the building had a dose-response effect on eye irritation, cough, and lethargy/fatigue.