• Monday, April 13th, 2009
Int J Occup Environ Health. 2008 Oct-Dec;14(4):283-98.
That’s a .pdf worth reading.
I’ll give you the conclusion first:
The ACOEM Mold Statement jeopardizes the “health and safety of workers, workplaces, and environments that ACOEM purports to champion.”
If you’re not familiar with the ACOEM Mold Statement, it is a document that is used in court to disprove the damaging effects of mold on health.
The doctor and author, James Craner is an expert on the adverse health effects of indoor mold exposure in water-damaged buildings, and has
been a co-investigator in US government-funded research on indoor
environmental quality and building energy efficiency. This doctor explains clearly what is wrong with the ACOEM Mold Statement. Click on the header to read the full article.
The author makes several points:
- “The purpose, balance, and focus on clinical and public health, epidemiology, exposure assessment and control,and disease prevention, as well as recommendations for taking a leadership role in controlling the
environmental hazard, and calling for additional research that were addressed in all of these previous ACOEM position statements and guidelines were conspicuously absent from the ACOEM Mold Statement.” The very elements of earlier position statements that make those statements balanced and professional were not included in the mold statement
- “ACOEM members with credible training, qualifications, and clinical,
epidemiological and/or original research experience in indoor air quality (IAQ), sick building syndrome (SBS), and indoor fungal bioaerosols (mold) [were not solicited ] to serve as the authors.” The authors chosen to write the ACOEM Mold Statement were not experts in the field;
- A claim is made of peer review by “over 100 physicians.” The article points out that there is evidence of fewer than 20 peers actually reviewed.
- “Despite Dr. Borak’s call for a “meticulous” and “meaningful” peer review, only two of the reviewers had previously published on mold-related topics. Medline literature search reveals that none of the other reviewers had previously published any peer-reviewed articles.” Those chosen were clearly lacking authority in the topic area.
The article goes on to points drawn from critiques of the ACOEM Mold Statement and to make suggestions about how to fix what ails statement procedure so that the results accurately portray legitimate conclusions.
• Monday, March 09th, 2009
According to a study by the Department of Microbiology of Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute at Sri Ramachandra University, there is an urgent need to “undertake study of indoor air, to generate baseline data and explore the link to nosocomial infections.”
The study postulates a relationship between mold and sick building syndrome (SBS) and building related illnesses, citing “fungal contamination within wall, ceiling, and floor cavities by movement of cells, spores, and cell fragments via wall openings and gaps at structural joints” as well the building providing a perfect mold breeding ground with: “lack of fresh…poor ventilation, poorly regulated temperature…relative humidity levels contributing to the presence and multiplication of bio-aerosols.
So, like we’ve said a hundred times before, eliminate the water leaks and humidity. Control the environment, and you control the mold.
Srikanth P, Sudharsanam S, Steinberg R. Bio-aerosols in indoor environment: Composition, health effects and analysis. Indian J Med Microbiol [serial online] 2008 [cited 2009 Mar 9];26:302-12. Available from: http://www.ijmm.org/text.asp?2008/26/4/302/43555
• Thursday, February 12th, 2009
Addressing environmental health Implications of mold exposure after major flooding.
Does all of this seem painfully obvious to anyone who lives in the real world? I suppose it is a good thing that at least some scientific expertise is being pointed toward the problems presented in mold exposure. Read on to find out what some scientific minds have figured out. Or admitted. Let’s hope this is a legally defensible position.
“Extensive water damage resulting from major flooding is often associated with mold growth if materials are not quickly and thoroughly dried. Exposure to fungal contamination can lead to several infectious and noninfectious health effects impacting the respiratory system, skin, and eyes. Adverse health effects can be categorized as infections, allergic or hypersensitivity reactions, or toxic-irritant reactions. Workers and building occupants can minimize their exposure to mold by avoiding areas with excessive mold growth, using personal protective equipment, and implementing environmental controls. Occupational health professionals should encourage workers to seek health care if they experience any symptoms that may be linked to mold exposure.”
pubmed abstract
Department of Environmental Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
AAOHN J. 2008 Mar;56(3):115-20; quiz 121-2.
• Tuesday, February 03rd, 2009
Indoor allergen exposure to sources such as house-dust mites, pets, fungi, and insects plays a significant role in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma. The identification of the major allergens has led to methods that can quantitate exposure, e.g., immunoassays for Der p 1 in settled dust samples. Sensitization and the development of allergic respiratory disease result from complex genetic and environmental interactions. New paradigms that examine the role of other environmental factors, including exposure to proteases that can activate eosinophils and initiate Th2 responses, and epigenetics, are being explored. Recommendations for specific environmental allergen avoidance measures are discussed for house-dust mites, cockroaches, animal dander, and fungi. Specific measures to reduce indoor allergen exposure when vigorously applied may reduce the risk of sensitization and symptoms of allergic respiratory disease, although further research will be necessary to establish cost-effective approaches.
Allergy Asthma Proc. 2008 Nov-Dec;29(6):575-9.
By RK Bush
