Title: | Environmental home inspection services in Western Europe |
Author(s): | Charpin D; Baden R; Bex V; Bladt S; Charpin-Kadouch C; Keimeul C; da Mata P; De Blay F; Kuske M; Le Moullec Y; Nicolas A; Ott M; Marc R; Speyer C; Vervloet D; Squinazi F; |
Address: | "Department of Pneumonology and Allergy, North Hospital, Chemin des Bourrelly, 13015, Marseille, France. denis-andre.charpin@ap-hm.fr" |
DOI: | 10.1007/s12199-010-0171-0 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1347-4715 (Electronic) 1342-078X (Print) 1342-078X (Linking) |
Abstract: | "This review deals with environmental home inspection services in Western Europe provided for patients at the request of attending physicians to improve patient management. Such requests are usually motivated by respiratory or general symptoms which occur or worsen at home. The visit includes a standardised questionnaire as well as environmental sampling such as mite-allergen measurement, mould identification and volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements. Besides, some non-respiratory indoor risks are also taken into account. Following the visit, a report is sent to the family and the attending physician. These services have been developed since the early 1990s, but evaluation of their efficacy is still limited. Some studies have demonstrated a reduction in mite-allergen levels and clinical improvement following the visit and implementation of advice provided to the family. However, more studies are needed to further document efficacy and also perform cost-benefit analysis of these services" |
Keywords: | "Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis Antigens, Dermatophagoides/analysis Cost-Benefit Analysis Environmental Monitoring/*methods Epidemiological Monitoring Europe/epidemiology Fungi/isolation & purification *Health Surveys/economics Housing Humans Referral and;" |
Notes: | "MedlineCharpin, Denis Baden, Ralph Bex, Valerie Bladt, Sandrine Charpin-Kadouch, Carmel Keimeul, Catherine da Mata, Pedro de Blay, Frederic Kuske, Martyna Le Moullec, Yvon Nicolas, Alain Ott, Martine Marc, Roger Speyer, Chrisbelle Vervloet, Daniel Squinazi, Fabien eng Evaluation Study Review Japan 2011/03/25 Environ Health Prev Med. 2011 Mar; 16(2):73-9. doi: 10.1007/s12199-010-0171-0. Epub 2010 Aug 14" |