Nearly one in five homes in Brussels suffer from "major problems" involving damp, a recent study has found.
Of the 3,051 homes examined by the Regional Indoor Pollution Intervention Unit (CRIPI) over the past two decades, 518 were reported to suffer greatly from damp. Visible mould was discovered in 610 (or 20%) of the homes visited.
The figures arguably underestimate the scale of the problem in the Brussels-Capital Region. This is because CRIPI typically only examines a home at the request of a doctor who observes a recurring health problem in a patient without being able to determine any other potential cause.
Damp in homes can lead to a host of medical complications, including regular coughing, sneezing, itching, tingling, dryness and general 'ENT' [ear, nose, and throat] disorders.
In more serious cases it can also cause asthma, emphysema, and even pneumonia, as well as "general problems" including fatigue, insomnia or depression.
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According to Sandrine Bladt, the Head of Health and Indoor Pollution at Brussels Environment, there are a number of things that people can do to prevent or reduce damp in their homes.
These include avoiding certain "volatile" organic compounds or solvents (e.g. benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride) for building, maintaining clean mattresses, and avoiding the overuse of home fragrances.
Bladt also recommends airing one's home "twice a day, with windows wide open for 15 minutes, avoiding peak traffic times" – even during winter.
