Home dampness, fungi and house dust mites, and respiratory symptoms in children

Damp houses are common in the Netherlands. A study conducted in 1985 at the request of the Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment, among housing corporations that managed 1.6 million houses (almost one third of the total housing stock in the Netherlands at that time) showed that approximately 18% of these houses were affected by dampness to at least some degree (Tannnes et aI. 1985). More recently, the prevalence of home dampness in the Netherlands was investigated in a representative sample of the total housing stock (approximately 6 million houses) within the framework of the 'Qualitative Housing Registration 1989-1991' (Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment 1993). Approximately 20% of the total housing stock was affected by home dampness. The bighest rate of home dampness reported for rented houses was in the private sector (26.3%), with slightly fewer (21.7%) in public sector housing, and 16.8% of private houses. Home dampness was more common in older houses (bnild before 1946) than in relatively new houses (build after 1968). Damp houses are not only common in the Netherlands, but are also found in other countries with a temperate climate. For example, in the UK it has been estimated that 2.5 million houses are seriously affected by dampness (Flannigan et aI. 1991). In the Netherlands as well as in several other countries, it has been recognized that energy saving progrannnes involving insulation and sealing of homes, have reduced the exchange of air between the indoors and outdoors, which has led to 'trapping' of moisture and air pollutants generated indoors.