Background
In 2020 in the UK a young boy called Awaab Ishak died from acute airway oedema with severe granulomatous tracheobronchitis due to environmental mould exposure within his own home. The coroner?s future death report outlined the lack of information and awareness of the health risks available. We sought, as part of a new children?s environmental assessment clinic to establish how many of our patients are impacted by environmental exposure to pollutants and mould.

Methods
We developed a questionnaire on exposures in and outside the home and shared with patients attending our respiratory clinic and clinical nurse specialist appointments. The results of the questionnaire include free-text comments regarding the exposure to mould, and parental concern.

Results
19 families completed the questionnaire. 85% had asthma. 2 families owned their own home, and the majority (65%) lived in local authority (LA) managed accommodation. The majority lived within 50 meters of a main road (75%). 65% reported living in homes with visible mould, and the majority of these had reported but had minimal action taken. 77% of respondents with visible mould felt this is impacting their child?s health.

Discussion
The health effects of mould and damp are well known; however the majority of the evidence comes from occupational exposure. There has also to date been a focus on external pollution exposures in the exacerbation of childhood asthma. Our results demonstrate that there is mould in many of our patients? homes, particularly those living in LA homes, with limited removal. We are inviting these children to our clinic and working collaboratively with local authorities to improve the health environment of these vulnerable children.