Abstract
In response to an Australian governmental inquiry into biotoxin-related illness, the purpose of this integrative review is to bring together the current state of evidence on the prevalence, risk factors and impacts related to mould-affected housing in an Australian context, in order to inform building, housing and health research, practice and policy. The robust integrative review methodology simultaneously sought quantitative and qualitative studies and grey literature from multiple disciplines, identifying only 45 studies directly relating to Australian housing and indoor mould. Twenty-one studies highlight negative health impacts relating to indoor residential mould, with asthma, respiratory, allergy conditions and emerging health concerns for chronic multiple-symptom presentation. The majority of studies reported risk factors for indoor mould including poor housing conditions, poor-quality rental accommodation, socioeconomic circumstance, age-related housing issues and concerns for surface/interstitial condensation and building defects in newer housing. Risks for indoor mould in both older and newer housing raise concerns for the extent of the problem of indoor mould in Australia. Understanding the national prevalence of housing risks and “root cause” associated with indoor mould is not conclusive from the limited existing evidence. Synthesis of this evidence reveals a lack of coverage on: (1) national and geographical representation, (2) climatical coverage, (3) housing typologies, (4) housing defects, (5) maintenance, (6) impact from urbanisation, and (7) occupant’s behaviour. This integrative review was key in identifying emerging housing and health concerns, highlighting gaps in data and implications to be addressed by researchers, practice and policy and acts as a comprehensive holistic review process that can be applied to other countries.
Highlights
Accepted: 2 February 2022Indoor dampness resulting in mould-affected housing was previously estimated to affect 10–50% of dwellings in Australia, Europe, North America, India and Japan [1] with an increase in prevalence when located close to bodies of water, coastal areas or previously flood-affected locations [2]
As a critical starting point for addressing housing, mould and health synergies, this paper aims to develop a robust integrated review methodology for this topic and bring together the current state of evidence on the prevalence, risk factors and impacts related to reported mould-affected housing conditions in an Australia context
This integrative review seeks to answer the following research question: What is the current state of evidence on the prevalence, risk factors and impacts related to mould-affected housing in Australia?
Summary
Accepted: 2 February 2022Indoor dampness resulting in mould-affected housing was previously estimated to affect 10–50% of dwellings in Australia, Europe, North America, India and Japan [1] with an increase in prevalence when located close to bodies of water, coastal areas or previously flood-affected locations [2]. Dampness and indoor mould indicators affect up to. Suburban and rural China, up to 12% of housing has indoor mould and up to 55% of homes are affected by window condensation [12,13,14]. A worldwide study of both affluent (highincome) and non-affluent countries reported that up to 47% of homes have the presence of damp or indoor mould [15]. Few studies exist in tropical regions, a recent study in southern India reported that 50% of homes had dampness problems [16] and a study in northern Thailand reported on indoor mould present in both the “dry” and “wet” seasons in 7.1% of homes and water leakage affecting 28.2% of homes [17].
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