Homeowners are urged to make their houses as energy efficient as possible by adding insulation and sealing drafty windows and doors. But you must make sure that such steps are done properly, and that the house is heated and ventilated well, or you could raise your risk developing asthma.
A study conducted in England found that adults who lived in more energy efficient homes were more likely to develop asthma. This risk was doubled for people who lived in houses with a moldy or musty odor.
Researchers from the University of Exeter in England collected data on people living in 700 properties in Cornwall, England. The properties were part of what is called social housing, which is housing for people with low incomes. The data included information on the energy efficiency ratings of the houses along with health and socioeconomic information about the residents. Energy efficiency ratings were based on the British government's Standard Assessment Procedure.
They found that there was a 2% increased risk that an adult resident of the house currently had asthma for each extra SAP unit of the house. The greatest risk was in houses rated more than 71 SAP. However, a unit increase in SAP also led to a 4 to 5% decrease in the risk of visible mold or moldy odors in the house.
The presence of a moldy or musty odor in the house was associated with a doubling of the risk of asthma. But the exposure to mold alone did not fully explain why increased energy efficiency was associated with asthma.
"Our findings may be explained by increased energy efficiency combined with the provision of inadequate heating, ventilation, and increased concentrations of other biological, chemical and physical contaminants," the authors of the study said. Other possible factors include the presence of house dust mites or bacteria.
The United Kingdom has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world. This is one of the
The study was published in the journal Environment International and was reported at ScienceDaily.com.