Observed Home Dampness and Mold Are Associated with Sustained Spikes in Personal Exposure to Particulate Matter Less than 10 μm in Diameter in Exacerbation-Prone Children with Asthma

Rationale: Home dampness and mold are associated with asthma severity and exacerbations, but little is known about the nature of these exposures in at-risk children.Objectives: To test the hypothesis that observed dampness, water damage, and mold in the home are associated with higher exposure to particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter in a cohort of at-risk children with asthma.Methods: We performed a pilot study in 8- to 16-year-old children with exacerbation-prone asthma (n = 29; Denver Asthma Panel Study). Exposure to particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter was measured over ∼72 hours with personal wearable monitors (MicroPEM [RTI International] and iTrack Micro GPS tracker) and stationary bedroom-located monitors (PEM, MSP Corporation). Mean percentage personal monitored time was 93% (95% confidence interval, 90–96%). Mean and spikes of real-time exposure to particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter were calculated and, for personal monitored samples, partitioned into exposure whil...