Public housing mold intervention program in New York reduces asthma-related emergency visits
A New York public housing mold removal program reduced asthma-related emergency visits by nearly 2,800 annually, according to new research.Summary
The New York City Housing Authority's Mold Busters program, developed in response to a 2013 class-action lawsuit, has proven effective in reducing asthma-related emergency department visits. Research presented at the ATS 2026 International Conference found that the program resulted in nearly 2,800 fewer asthma-related ED visits annually, with public housing residents served by Mold Busters averaging nine fewer asthma-related ED visits per thousand people compared to similar non-public housing areas. The study, which compared ED visits for public housing residents with a control group in nearby areas with similar income levels, represents the first large-scale observational study demonstrating that citywide mold intervention projects can significantly reduce asthma exacerbations. First author Nina Flores noted that buildings with the largest drops in mold complaints also saw the steepest declines in asthma-related emergency department visits, further supporting the connection between the intervention and health improvements. The researchers acknowledged that their findings likely underestimate the full scope of health benefits, as the study did not capture impacts of less-severe asthma exacerbations or other allergic and respiratory problems associated with mold exposure.
(Source：Medical Xpress)