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"We were able to find
sufficient evidence that certain respiratory problems, including symptoms in
asthmatics who are sensitive to mold, are associated with exposure to mold
and damp conditions. Excessive dampness influences whether mold, as well as
bacteria, dust mites and other such agents, are present and thrive indoors,
the committee noted. In addition, the wetness may cause chemicals and
particles to be released from building materials. A rare ailment known as
hypersensitivity pneumonitis also was associated with indoor mold exposure
in susceptible people," as reported in the almost 300 page
report
by the
Institute of Medicine
[division of U.S.
Government's National Academy of Sciences],
Tuesday, May 25,
2004. The study was financed by the U.S. Government's Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Mold blamed for
breathing problems
Insufficient evidence for other ills,
study finds
Institute of Medicine [division of National Academy of Sciences]Tuesday,
May 25, 2004 The study was financed by the U.S. Government's Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Respiratory
problems, including some asthma, can be caused by mold, but an extensive
study released Tuesday failed to indict the fungus for a host of other,
often major illnesses that some have sought to associate with it.
"Even though the available evidence
does not link mold or other factors associated with building moisture to all
the serious health problems that some attribute to them, excessive indoor
dampness is a widespread problem that warrants action at the local, state
and national levels," said Noreen Clark, dean of the
School
of Public Health at the University of Michigan.
Clark
headed an Institute of Medicine panel that studied the health effects of
mold, which has drawn increased attention in recent years with the shutdown
of a major hotel, delayed openings of schools in several states and a raft
of lawsuits.
The Institute, an arm of the National
Academy of Sciences, said mold and building dampness do constitute a problem
and urged it be corrected through a range of steps, including changes in how
buildings are designed,constructed and maintained.
"An exhaustive review of the
scientific literature made it clear to us that it can be very hard to tease
apart the health effects of exposure to mold from all the other factors that
may be influencing health in the typical indoor environment," said
Clark.
"That said, we were able to find
sufficient evidence that certain respiratory problems, including symptoms in
asthmatics who are sensitive to mold, are associated with exposure to mold
and damp conditions," she concluded.
Excessive dampness influences whether
mold, as well as bacteria, dust mites and other such agents, are present and
thrive indoors, the committee noted. In addition, the wetness may cause
chemicals and particles to be released from building materials.
A rare ailment known as
hypersensitivity pneumonitis also was associated with indoor mold exposure
in susceptible people.
But the committee said it was unable
to find evidence that mold is associated with fatigue, neuropsychiatric
disorders or other health problems that some people have attributed to
fungal infestations of buildings.
The little evidence that is available
does not support an association, the committee said, but it added that
because there are so few studies it cannot rule out a connection.
Molds that are capable of producing
toxins do grow indoors, and toxic and inflammatory effects also can be
caused by bacteria that flourish in damp conditions, the report noted
The committee said information exists
on how to control dampness but architects, engineers, building contractors,
facility managers and maintenance staff do not always apply this knowledge.
The members called for development of
guidelines for preventing indoor dampness and said they should be promoted
nationally. In addition, building codes and regulations should be reviewed
and modified as necessary to reduce moisture problems, the committee said.
Lawsuits claiming illnesses from mold
in buildings that were not properly built or cleaned up have multiplied in
recent years.
Changes in building codes in the 1970s
to make homes more energy efficient and airtight had the effect of allowing
less ventilation through a house that would dry out a wet wall or floor,
which in turn may have led to more mold damage claims, according to
attorneys involved in some cases.
The National Academy of Sciences is a
private institution chartered by Congress to advise the government on
scientific matters. The study was funded by the federal Centers for
Disease Control and prevention.
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