Bronchial Reactivity in Students from Moisture and Mold-Damaged Schools: Changes in Relation to Changes in Exposure

There is epidemiological and preliminary clinical evidence that exposure to moisture and mold growth is associated with wheezing and asthma in children. Lung function and challenge tests may find obstructive changes in the airways before clinically evident symptoms. The aim of the study was to evaluate lung function and bronchial reactivity in school children in a follow-up setting, and relate them to changes in mold exposure over a 3-year observation period. We performed flow-volume spirometry and an exercise challenge test by outdoor free running 3 years apart to the same 139 students from moisture-problem and control schools. The subjects were classified into four exposure groups: exposure continued, eased, started, and no exposure. There were no significant differences in spirometry or in the exercise challenge test among the children in the four different exposure groups. However, there was a trend that, on average, bronchial reactivity increased when exposure started, and decreased when exposure eas...