Onset characteristics and breadth of occupants’ long-lasting building-related symptoms attributed to living in damp housing conditions in Australia: Qualitative insights

Abstract

Few studies explore persistent building-related symptoms in a residential context. Additionally, a growing body of literature suggests symptoms related to indoor building dampness and mould (D/M) may present as a broader set of symptoms than previously thought. In this study, we performed deductive and inductive qualitative content analysis, using a Long COVID-19 symptom category framework, to analyse first person responses to open-ended symptom questions from an online survey. This study describes 154 residential occupants’ self-reported symptomatic experiences, at the onset of symptoms perceived to be related to living with indoor D/M. The majority of occupants experienced 3 or more D/M indicators and reported multiple concurrent symptoms that came on gradually and persisted for 1 year or more, significantly impacting quality of life. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, led by brain fog, headaches, sleep issues and memory loss, were the most prevalent symptom category, however new categories emerged for hypersensitivities, increased occurrence of infections and asthma-related symptoms. Occupants with short-term (1–30 days) and long-term (2 years or more) experience of living with D/M conditions reported long-lasting symptoms. In conclusion, in providing deeper insights into the symptomatic experiences of occupants, this study highlights the need for a framework that encompasses the breadth of symptoms and their system categories. It also provides a nuanced understanding of the characteristics of symptom onset and prevalence.