Studies have shown that people who are atopic (sensitive), already suffer from allergies, asthma, or compromised immune systems and occupy damp or<unk> y buildings are at an increased risk of<unk>  problems such as inflammatory responses to<unk>  spores, metabolites such as mycotoxins, and other components. Other problems are respiratory and/or immune system responses including respiratory symptoms, respiratory infections, exacerbation of asthma, and rarely hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic alveolitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic fungal sinusitis. A person's reaction to<unk>  depends on their sensitivity and other<unk>  conditions, the amount of<unk>  present, length of exposure, and the type of<unk>  or<unk>  products. Some<unk> s also produce mycotoxins, which can pose serious<unk>  risks to humans and animals. The colloquial term "toxic<unk> " (or more accurately, toxigenic<unk>  refers to<unk> s that produce mycotoxins known to harm humans, such as Stachybotrys chartarum, not to all<unk> s. Exposure to high levels of mycotoxins can lead to neurological problems and, in some cases, death. Prolonged exposure, e.g., daily workplace exposure, can be particularly harmful. The five most common genera of indoor<unk> s are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Trichoderma. Damp environments that allow<unk>  to grow can also allow the proliferation of bacteria and release volatile organic compounds. Symptoms of<unk>  exposure Symptoms of<unk>  exposure can include: * Nasal and sinus congestion, runny nose * Respiratory problems, such as wheezing and difficulty breathing, chest tightness * Cough * Throat irritation * Sneezing / Sneezing fits<unk>  effects linking to asthma Adverse respiratory<unk>  effects are associated with occupancy in buildings with moisture and<unk>  damage. Infants may develop respiratory symptoms due to exposure to a specific type of fungal<unk> , called Penicillium. Signs that an infant may have<unk> -related respiratory problems include (but are not limited to) a persistent cough and wheeze. Increased exposure increases the probability of developing respiratory symptoms during their first year of life. Studies have shown that a correlation exists between the probability of developing asthma and increased exposure to Penicillium. The levels are deemed ‘no<unk> ’ to ‘low level’, from ‘low’ to ‘intermediate’, and ‘intermediate’ to ‘high’.<unk>  exposures have a variety of<unk>  effects depending on the person. Some people are more sensitive to<unk>  than others. Exposure to<unk>  can cause several<unk>  issues such as; throat irritation, nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, cough, and wheezing, as well as skin irritation in some cases. Exposure to<unk>  may also cause heightened sensitivity depending on the time and nature of exposure. People at higher risk for<unk>  allergies are people with chronic lung illnesses and weak immune systems, which can often result in more severe reactions when exposed to<unk> . There has been sufficient evidence that damp indoor environments are correlated with upper respiratory tract symptoms such as coughing, and wheezing in people with asthma. Flood-specific<unk><unk>  effects Among children and adolescents, the most common<unk>  effect post-flooding was lower respiratory tract symptoms, though there was a lack of association with measurements of total fungi. Another study found that these respiratory symptoms were positively associated with exposure to water damaged homes, exposure included being inside without participating in clean up. Despite lower respiratory effects among all children, there was a significant difference in<unk>  outcomes between children with pre-existing conditions and children without. Children with pre-existing conditions were at greater risk that can likely be attributed to the greater disruption of care in the face of flooding and natural disaster. Although<unk>  is the primary focus post flooding for residents, the effects of dampness alone must also be considered. According to the Institute of Medicine, there is a significant association between dampness in the home and wheeze, cough, and upper respiratory symptoms. A later analysis determined that 30% to 50% of asthma-related<unk>  outcomes are associated with not only<unk> , but also dampness in buildings. Another<unk>  effect associated with dampness and<unk>  is Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), which is defined by manifestations of symptomatic illness as a result of poor indoor air quality and pollutant exposures. Signs of potentially illness-causing buildings include condensation on the windows, high humidity in the bathrooms, a<unk> y odor, or water leakage. While there is a proven correlation between<unk>  exposure and the development of upper and lower respiratory syndromes, there are still fewer incidences of negative<unk>  effects than one might expect. Barbeau and colleagues suggested that studies do not show a greater impact from<unk>  exposure for several reasons: 1) the types of<unk>  effects are not severe and are therefore not caught; 2) people whose homes have flooded find alternative housing to prevent exposure; 3) self-selection, the<unk> ier people participated in<unk>  clean-up and were less likely to get sick; 4) exposures were time-limited as result of remediation efforts and; 5) the lack of access to<unk>  care post-flooding may result in fewer illnesses being discovered and reported for their association with<unk> . There are also certain notable scientific limitations in studying the exposure effects of dampness and<unk> s on individuals because there are currently no known biomarkers that can prove that a person was exclusively exposed to<unk> s. Thus, it is currently impossible to prove correlation between<unk>  exposure and symptoms.
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