Respiratory conditions caused by airborne allergens
Respiratory health conditions caused by airborne allergens and the groups that are most vulnerable to poor indoor air quality.
Applies to England
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Topic: environmental exposures
Air-related exposure: airborne allergens
Part of: The Health Risks of Airborne Allergens
Key resources for other allergies and airborne allergens:
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Respiratory conditions caused by airborne allergens
Fungal allergies
People can develop allergies to fungi in the same way they can become allergic to other airborne particles like pollen and dust. Fungal spores are everywhere in the air we breathe, and there are millions of fungal species present in the environment globally (1).
Aspergillosis
When you breathe in tiny particles of mould, you might get conditions such as aspergillosis. Symptoms of this include (2):
- shortness of breath
- a cough
- wheezing
- a high temperature
- weight loss
- feeling tired
Whilst rare in healthy people, some people are more at-risk if they have a lung condition (like asthma, cystic fibrosis of chromic obstructive pulmonary disease), a weakened immune system (like if you’ve had an organ transplant or are having chemotherapy), have had tuberculosis in the past, or have had severe flu or COVID-19 and needed help breathing with artificial ventilation.
The mould that causes Aspergillosis can be found in several places, including (2):
- soil, compost and rotting leaves
- plants, trees and crops
- dust
- bedding
- damp buildings
- air conditioning systems
People who are more affected by poor indoor air quality
Some populations are particularly affected by poor indoor air quality (3):
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children, especially those aged 0 to 14, are highly susceptible to respiratory diseases caused by exposure to damp and mould, which was associated with around 5,000 new cases of asthma and 8,500 lower respiratory infections among children
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lower-income communities are more likely to live in homes with damp and mould due to factors like overcrowding, fuel poverty, and inadequate ventilation and insulation
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people who are Black, Asian or another minority group are more likely to live in dwellings with damp and mould
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people who have a long-term illness or disability often have compromised immune systems, making them more vulnerable to the effects of indoor pollutants
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older adults (aged 50 and above) may be at risk due to the potential misclassification between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
References
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Kurup VP, Shen HD, Banerjee B, ‘Respiratory fungal allergy’ Microbes and Infection 2000: Volume 2(9) pages 1101-1110 (Viewed 20 March 2025)
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NHS, ‘Aspergillosis’ (Viewed 10 March 2025)
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Clark SN, Lam HCY, Goode EJ, Marczylo EL, Exley KS, Dimitroulopoulou, ‘The Burden of Respiratory Disease from Formaldehyde, Damp and Mould in English Housing’ Environments 2023: Volume 10(8) (viewed on 18 March 2025)