Madam, – The Asthma Society would like to emphasise that it is extremely worrying that Aspergillus fumigatus has been found in Dolphin House (Ronan McGreevy and Kitty Holland, HEALTHplus, March 29th).
Ireland has one of the highest rates of asthma in Europe and the prevalence is rising.
There are many factors that influence the increasing rates of asthma but poor housing, and associated mould, spores and mildew has long been recognised as a causative and an exacerbating factor in many common respiratory conditions.
The Asthma Society of Ireland has great concerns for anybody living in the conditions described in the article. Dr Maurice Manning from the Irish Human Rights Commission and Lorna Fox O’Mahoney, professor of law, both have commented on the legal aspect of living in such conditions, but there is also a public health issue.
From the Asthma Society’s viewpoint the potential impact on respiratory health is of paramount importance. – Yours, etc,