INDOOR ENVIRONMENT, ASTHMA, ALLERGIES, SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS) IN THE SWEDISH POPULATION-A LONGITUDINAL COHORT STUDY FROM 1989-1997

摘要

Changes of asthma, allergies, SBS and indoor exposures in the dwelling were studied in an 8-year follow-up study of a random sample of the population (N=466) in a 3-county region in Sweden, initially aged 20-65 y. In total, 348 (75%) answered the postal follow-up questionnaire. Some improvements of the home environment were observed. Water-leakage during the last year had decreased from 11.2% to 4.8% (p=0.005), visible indoor mould had decreased from 4.7% to 1.6% (p=0.02), and any sign of building dampness decreased from 16.1% to 9.5% (p=0.004). Dwellings with mechanical ventilation either in living rooms or bedrooms increased from 11.8% to 16.4% (p=0.014). The cumulative incidence of asthma had numerically increased from 5.2% to 7.2% (0.25%/y) (p=0.09), while the prevalence of hay fever (14%) and any types of allergy (25%) remained unchanged. A few SBS-symptoms had decreased, e.g. nasal catarrh (15% to 8%) (p=0.003), sensation of getting a cold (25% to 15%) (p=0.002) and there was a numerical decrease of sore throat (9% to 6%) (p=0.06). Moreover, the prevalence of current smoking had decreased from 30% to 19% (p<0.001). In conclusion, our data suggests that the number of damp buildings has decreased in Sweden, possible due to better maintenance and other improvements, and ventilation have improved. Moreover, tobacco smoking and some respiratory SBS-symptom decreased during the follow-up period, suggesting improved health conditions.