Journal article
Assessment of Airborne Exposures and Health in Flooded Homes Undergoing Renovation
Indoor air, Vol.22(6), pp.446-456
12/2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2012.00785.x
PMCID: PMC3484189
PMID: 22519834
Abstract
In June 2008, the Cedar River crested flooding more than 5,000 Cedar Rapids homes. Residents whose homes were flooded were invited to participate in this study. Household assessments and resident interviews were conducted between November 2008 and April 2009. We characterized exposures and symptoms experienced by individuals inhabiting 73 flood-damaged homes. Active air sampling and passive electrostatic dust collectors were used to assess exposures to: culturable mold, culturable bacteria, fungal spores, inhalable particulate matter (iPM), endotoxin, glucans, allergens, lead, asbestos, radon, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. Wall moisture levels and relative humidity were also measured. Exposures and questionnaire-based health assessments were compared at two levels of remediation, in-progress and completed. Homes with remediation in-progress (
n
=24), as compared to the completed homes (
n
=49), had significantly higher airborne concentrations of mold, bacteria, iPM, endotoxin and glucan. Residents of in-progress homes had a significantly higher prevalence of doctor diagnosed allergies (adjusted OR=3.08; 95%CI: 1.05–9.02) and all residents had elevated prevalence of self-reported wheeze (adjusted OR=3.77; 95%CI: 2.06–6.92) and prescription medication use for breathing problems (adjusted OR=1.38; 95%CI: 1.01–1.88) after the flood as compared to before. Proper post-flood remediation led to improved air quality and lower exposures among residents living in flooded homes.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Assessment of Airborne Exposures and Health in Flooded Homes Undergoing Renovation
- Creators
- Kimberly A Hoppe - State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242Nervana Metwali - State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242Sarah Spencer Perry - State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242Tom Hart - State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242Pamela A Kostle - State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242Peter S Thorne - State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Indoor air, Vol.22(6), pp.446-456
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2012.00785.x
- PMID
- 22519834
- PMCID
- PMC3484189
- ISSN
- 0905-6947
- eISSN
- 1600-0668
- Grant note
- P30 ES005605-18S1 || ES / National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences : NIEHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2012
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9983997364802771
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