Background

The homes in which children live can have a significant impact on their asthma.  Indoor pollutant exposures are the result of complex interactions between the structure of the building, the building systems such as ventilation and heating, furnishings, the outdoor environment, and the activities of those inside the building.

Mold, and cockroach and rodent allergens, have been associated with difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing in asthmatic children. Unfortunately, poor building maintenance and construction can create conditions that promote mold growth and cockroach and rodent exposure—including leaky pipes, condensation from bad ventilation, holes and cracks in floors and walls, as well as trash piles and clutter that provide shelter for pests. 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde and other chemicals used in furniture and paints, are also asthma triggers. VOCs are particularly a problem in environments which may be poorly ventilated such as mobile homes, trailers, or poorly designed housing.

Other asthma triggers include gas stoves, space heaters, tobacco smoke, animal dander, and dust mites. In addition to known allergens, emerging evidence links pesticide exposure with asthma.

People living in low-income housing are limited in their ability to control asthma triggers. Many public housing units were built when minimal building standards were enforced. Recalcitrant landlords and overwhelmed public housing authorities are often unresponsive to calls for needed housing improvements, and may actually exacerbate problems by spraying pesticides throughout housing units and complexes.