First of its kind advisory on making buildings damp and mould-free

people who stay indoors risk respiratory problems just as much as those exposed to outdoor air pollution. In fact, people living or working in buildings that are damp and have mould are at 75 per cent greater risk of getting respiratory problems and asthma. This is the latest finding of the World Health Organization (who). The finding accompanies a set of first-of-its-kind guidelines on indoor air quality. The who guidelines address damp and mould in buildings.

Dampness and poor ventilation lead to growth of microbes such as mould, fungi and bacteria that emit spores, cells and volatile organic compounds that pollute indoor air, who experts said. Indoor dampness affects up to 50 per cent indoor environments in Europe, North America, Australia, China, Japan and India, they added while issuing a list of remedial measures that building owners and occupants could take to improve indoor environment.