| Title: | [Housing and health counselling services in the management of allergic respiratory disease] |
| Author(s): | Charpin-Kadouch C; Mouche JM; Queralt J; Ercoli J; Hugues B; Garon M; Dumon H; Charpin DA; |
| Address: | "Maison de l'Allergie et de l'environnement, Marseille, France" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/s0761-8425(08)74347-x |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0761-8425 (Print) 0761-8425 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "INTRODUCTION: Input from Housing and health counselling services is advisable when a patient's health seems to be impaired by their housing conditions. METHODS: 650 home visits have been performed by our organisation since 2002. Each visit includes a questionnaire to assess respiratory as well as non-respiratory indoor risk factors, Acarex test to assess mite-allergen content in mattress dust, mould sampling and, when appropriate, air sampling for measurement of volatile organic compounds and aldehydes. RESULTS: The dwellings studied were mostly flats located in the downtown and occupied by a tenant. In most instances, several health hazards were identified. These hazards, in decreasing occurrence included: mold (74.4%), mite infestation in mattress dust (56.3%), cleaning products accessible to children's'hands (47.8%), dangerous electrical circuits (21.1%), exposure to chemical air pollutants (9.0%), exposure to an electromagnetic field (2.8%). Numerous fungal species were identified often occurring in association. CONCLUSION: This service allowed the identification of numerous and various health hazards. Its efficacy and effectiveness remains to be evaluated" |
| Keywords: | "Adolescent Adult *Air Pollution, Indoor *Allergens *Asthma/diagnosis/etiology Conjunctivitis, Allergic/diagnosis/etiology Environmental Monitoring/*methods Female *Hazardous Substances *Housing/standards Humans Male Middle Aged Mite Infestations/diagnosis;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineCharpin-Kadouch, C Mouche, J-M Queralt, J Ercoli, J Hugues, B Garon, M Dumon, H Charpin, D-A fre Comparative Study Evaluation Study France 2008/10/24 Rev Mal Respir. 2008 Sep; 25(7):821-7. doi: 10.1016/s0761-8425(08)74347-x" |
