This report is the result of a request by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a comprehensive review of the scientific data on the relationship between damp or moldy indoor environments and adverse health effects. In essence, the purpose was to provide a science- based, objective answer to the questions of whether mold growing in damp building spaces can cause health problems, and -- more broadly -- whether all the many factors that are related to indoor dampness can lead to illness.

The committee and its consultants took a broad- based approach to this charge. It examined studies that addressed why indoor moisture problems develop and how dampness influences mold and bacterial growth. It also examined studies on how moisture affects building materials and furnishings. It reviewed the laboratory, clinical, and epidemiologic studies on how damp indoor environments influence the health of occupants. It also looked at research on strategies for preventing dampness and cleaning contaminated spaces. Finally, it offered our perspectives on an appropriate public health response to damp indoor environments.