Asthma and Respiratory Illness Research Projects
Mold allergens from pests (such as cockroaches, rodents, and dust mites) and mold can worsen asthma and respiratory health problems. Some of these allergens may even cause asthma to develop in susceptible individuals. Since housing conditions can play a significant role in respiratory health, these hazards can greatly increase and intensify susceptibility to respiratory illnesses.
The National Center for Healthy Housing has studied asthma, its triggers and effects, and ways to reduce those effects for many years.
Because achieving healthy housing involves taking a holistic view of the home, some of the research projects listed below may not only be about asthma or respiratory illness; however, all of the NCHH research projects listed below have some connection to one or both.
NCHH’s Asthma and Respiratory Illness Research Projects
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of a State-Funded Healthy Homes Program for Residents with Asthma
An Evaluation of a State-Funded Healthy Homes Intervention on Asthma Outcomes in Adults and Children
An Evaluation of Green Housing Rehabilitation in Minnesota
Asthma and Allergen Sampling Study in Boston
Asthma Multisite Housing Assessment
Evaluating the Health Benefits of Green Affordable Housing
Extracting Indoor Pollutants with Proper Ventilation (Extract)*
Health Benefits of Residential Energy Efficiency
Healthy Rebuilding Demonstration Project in New Orleans
Home RX: The Health Benefits of Home Performance
Housing and Energy Attributes Linked To Health through Retrofits (HEALTH-R)*
Housing Environmental Aspects Linked To Health with Ventilation (HEALTH-V)
King County Healthy Homes Demonstration Project
Milwaukee Healthy Homes
Moving into Green Healthy Housing—The Yield in Reduced Medical Care Costs and Improved Health (MIGHHTY)
Occupant Health Benefits of Residential Energy Efficiency (E4TheFuture)
Phoenix Healthy Homes
Providence Healthy Homes
Studying the Optimal Ventilation for Environmental Indoor Air Quality (STOVE IAQ)*
Venting for Health
Watts to Well-Being
Weatherization and Respiratory Health in Maine
*This is a current research project.
Recommended Reading
Krieger, J., Jacobs, D. E., Ashley, P. J., Baeder, A., Chew, G. L., Dearborn, D., Hynes, H. P., Miller, J. D., Morley, R., Rabito, F., & Zeldin, D.C. (2010, September-October). Housing interventions and control of asthma-related indoor biologic agents: A review of the evidence. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 16(5 Suppl), S11-S20.
The Community Guide. (n.d). Asthma.
Crocker, D. D., Kinyota, S., Dumitru, G. G., Ligon, C. B., Herman, E. J., Ferdinands, J. M., Hopkins, D. P., et al. (2011, August). Effectiveness of home-based, multi-trigger, multicomponent interventions with an environmental focus for reducing asthma morbidity: A community guide systematic review. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 41(2 Suppl 1), S5-S32.
Kanchongkittiphon. W., Mendell. M. J., Gaffin. J. M., Wang. G., & Phipatanakul, W. (2015, January). Indoor environmental exposures and exacerbation of asthma: An update to the 2000 review by the Institute of Medicine. Environmental Health Perspectives, 123(1), 6-20.
Salo, P. M., Arbes, S.J., Jr., Crockett, P. W., Thorne, P. S., Cohn, R. D., & Zeldin, D. C. (2008, March). Exposure to multiple indoor allergens in US homes and its relationship to asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 121(3), 678-684
Portnoy, J., Miller, J. D., Williams, P. B., Chew, G. L., Miller, J. D., Zaitoun, F., Phipatanakul, W., et al. (2013, December). Environmental assessment and exposure control of dust mites: A practice parameter. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 111(6), 465-507.
Gent, J. F., Kezik, J. M., Hill, M. E., Tsai, E., Li, D. W., & Leaderer, B. P. (2012, October). Household mold and dust allergens: Exposure, sensitization and childhood asthma morbidity. Environmental Research, 118:, 86-93.
Nurmagambetov, T. A., Barnett, S. B., Jacob, V., Chattopadhyay, S. K., Hopkins, D. P., Crocker, D. D., Dumitru, G. G., et al. (2011, August). Economic value of home-based, multi-trigger, multicomponent interventions with an environmental focus for reducing asthma morbidity: A community guide systematic review. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 41(2 Suppl 1), S33-S47.