[ESTABLISHED]Established
Review of epidemiologic evidence on dampness, mold, and dampness-related agents
A review of the epidemiologic literature reported consistent associations between indoor dampness or mold and respiratory and allergic outcomes, without identifying a single causal agent.
How to read this
This library reports what studies found. An entry describes a study's design, its findings in its own terms, and its limits. Nothing here is a claim about what a Sage Co. home does, delivers, or prevents.
Last reviewed August 30, 2026.
What they studied
- A review of published epidemiologic studies of indoor dampness, visible mold, and dampness-related microbial agents.
- Outcomes considered included asthma development and exacerbation, wheeze, cough, respiratory infection, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, and eczema.
- Exposure in the source studies was assessed by occupant report, inspection, or measurement of dampness-related agents.
What they found
- The authors reported that dampness and mold in buildings were consistently associated with increased risk of the listed respiratory and allergic outcomes across the reviewed literature.
- Reported increases in risk were on the order of tens of percent relative to comparison groups, varying by outcome.
- The authors reported that no single measured microbial agent accounted for the associations.
What this study does not establish
- Observational associations; the review does not establish causation for any specific agent.
- Dampness is a broad exposure category assessed inconsistently across the source studies.
- No exposure threshold or intervention effect is established by the review.
- This entry reports the study. It is not a statement about any building Sage Co. designs or constructs.
Source
Mendell MJ, Mirer AG, Cheung K, Tong M, Douwes J (2011). Respiratory and allergic health effects of dampness, mold, and dampness-related agents: a review of the epidemiologic evidence. Environmental Health Perspectives 119(6):748–756.
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Elsewhere under Moisture & Mold
- Meta-analyses of respiratory health outcomes reported in damp or moldy homes
- Bacteria, molds, and toxins measured in water-damaged building materials
- Actinomycetes and non-tuberculous mycobacteria measured against respiratory findings in a water-damaged office building
- Review of actinobacteria in indoor environments and reported respiratory effects
- Culture and molecular methods compared for actinobacteria on water-damaged building material
- Inflammatory response in mice after instillation of Streptomyces spores from a moldy building
- Co-occurrence of bacterial and fungal secondary metabolites measured in moisture-damaged homes
- Chaetomium globosum prevalence in surveyed water-damaged buildings and metabolite production on building materials
- Metabolites of Wallemia sebi measured at water activity below common mold-growth thresholds
- Associations between fungal species and specific water-damaged building materials
- Systematic review of fungal exposure and hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- Review of Stachybotrys chartarum, trichothecene mycotoxins, and damp building–related illness
- Immune response measured after single versus repeated Stachybotrys lung exposures in mice
- Nasal and olfactory effects of satratoxin G measured in rhesus monkeys
- Olfactory neuron loss and inflammation measured in mice after intranasal satratoxin G
- Lung inflammation measured in mice exposed to Aspergillus versicolor spores from a moisture-damaged building
- Inflammatory gene expression measured in macrophages exposed to toxins from damp-building fungi
- Lung responses measured in mice exposed to purified toxins from building-isolated Penicillium species
- Human brain cell responses measured at satratoxin concentrations reported from water-damaged buildings
- Time-series and clinical-trial data reported on illness in water-damaged building occupants
- Review of proposed injury mechanisms from exposure to water-damaged buildings
- Neuropsychological and electrocortical measures compared between mold-exposed subjects and controls