INDUCTION OF DEPRESSION BY EXPOSURE TO DAMP ...

allergies and asthma and other inflammation processes (Dales and Dulberg, 1998;
Bornehag et al., 2004; Roponen et al., 2003).
In one study, the levels of inflammatory markers TNF-α, IL-6, and nitric oxide in
nasal lavage fluid were compared between staff members in a fungal-contaminated
school and a reference group (Hirvonen et al., 1999). During the school year, the staff
members from the contaminated building had higher levels of these markers than the
control group, but showed a lower levels of these markers compared to the controls
during the summer break. When the staff went back to the building during the fall
semester, nitric oxide and IL-6 increased again.
Several epidemiological studies have correlated increased inflammatory markers in
serum of people exposed to damp buildings. One study assessed multiple immune
markers in 209 symptomatic patients with self-reported exposures to damp buildings
(Gray et al., 2003). When compared to controls, patients with exposure to moldy
dwellings reported significantly more symptoms, especially those that were neurological
and inflammatory in nature. The research group found significant increases in T-cell
activation, pro-inflammatory cytokines levels, and autoantibodies concentrations to
components of the central and peripheral nervous system.
Another study compared the neurological measurements of 65 patients self-reporting
exposure to damp home environments that supported fungal growth (Kilburn, 2003).
Growth was confirmed via microscopic identification and analysis of air samples. The
patients underwent a battery of neurophysiological and neurobiological tests,
neurological examination, serum antibody measurements to molds and mycotoxins, as
well as respiratory flow and vital capacity testing. When compared to a control group of
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