IAQA Seeks to Correct Misreporting on Implications of IOM Mold Report

[Guest guest]

IAQA Seeks to Correct Misreporting on Implications of IOM Mold Report

Media Misinformed Public on Health Effects of Mold in Government-

Sponsored Report

NOTE TO EDITORS: The following represents the opinion of IAGA

ROCKVILLE, MD -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 06/17/2004 -- A recent report by

the Institute of Medicine, which finds an association between

conditions caused by indoor dampness and a laundry list of health

effects, has largely been misunderstood and misrepresented among

members of the general media.

The Institute of Medicine has found sufficient evidence of an

association between the presence of mold or other agents in damp

indoor environments and the following health outcomes: upper

respiratory tract symptoms, cough, wheeze, asthma symptoms in

sensitized persons. It found limited or suggestive evidence of an

association between the presence of agents in damp indoor

environments and lower respiratory illness in otherwise healthy

children.

It is the position of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) that

these findings should not be minimized. IAQA also believes that these

findings should not be blown out of proportion. It is unfortunate

that the public has already been exposed to both from the general

media following the report's May 25 release.

-- Scripps News Service issued an article bearing the

headline, " Study: No evidence household mold causes major

illness. "

-- The Wall Street Journal printed an article bearing the

headline, " Indoor Mold Linked to Problems Such as Asthma and

Coughing. "

IAQA believes that confusion over this sensitive topic could either

prolong mass hysteria or lead to an unduly apathetic attitude. Either

approach is counterproductive to the common good.

On one hand, homeowners and building managers reading one article may

think they have nothing to worry about if mold is in their buildings

and it is, as one journalist notes, " about as dangerous as spoiled

ketchup. " On the other hand, the people reading another article may

be led to believe they should evacuate their homes and business

immediately or else so-called " toxic mold " will kill them.

Not only do the Institute of Medicine authors clearly state that

there are no such things as toxic molds, but they rightfully suggest

a middle-of-the-road viewpoint. While they have found no current

science to establish a clear, causal link between mold and adverse

health effects, they did not rule out that such a link exists. This

is a crucial point that has overwhelmingly been lost in translation

by the media.

In the eyes of scientists, there is a clear-cut distinction between

what they call an " association " and what they call a " link, " simply

put, an association describes the relationship between two conditions

that merely coexist, while a link describes the cause-and-effect

relationship between one condition and another. This important

distinction is often glossed over by the media, or the terms are

incorrectly used interchangeably.

Authors of the Institute of Medicine report have stated repeatedly

that there is " a dearth of research " proving whether a causal link

exists between indoor dampness and any health effects. Because of

this, they have requested further study and presented guidelines for

those studies.

They also list no less than 15 other health symptoms that have been

attributed to mold and other agents and that scientific research has

not yet established sufficient evidence to determine whether an

association exists between them and the presence of mold or other

agents in damp environments. These include cancer, fatigue,

reproductive effects, skin symptoms, lower respiratory illness in

otherwise healthy adults, and airflow obstruction in otherwise

healthy people.

Furthermore, the authors have listed numerous concerns for damp

buildings. Indoor dampness in general is " not your friend, " as stated

by one member of the panel introducing the report at a May 25 press

conference in Washington, D.C. Thus, the report urges the building

community to develop steps to prevent indoor dampness before it

should ever become a problem.

Authors recommend action on the federal, state and local levels, and

the report specifically recommends that a federal agency develop and

disseminate consensus guidelines on building design, construction,

operation and maintenance, with the goal of preventing indoor

dampness. IAQA staff is working closely with the U.S. Department of

Housing and Urban Development to determine whether the association

could assist with such a project.

The Institute of Medicine is a private, nonprofit institution that

provides health policy advice under a congressional charter granted

to the National Academy of Sciences. The full report, which was

requested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can be

read online at http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11011.html.

The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) is a nonprofit,

multidisciplinary organization, dedicated to promoting the exchange

of indoor environmental information, through education and research,

for the safety and well being of the general public. For more

information on IAQA, visit www.iaqa.org or call (301) 231-8388.

Indoor Air Quality Association

12339 Carroll Avenue

Rockville, MD 20852

(301) 231-8388

Fax (301) 231-8321

iaqa@...

www.iaqa.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

Media Contact:

Glenn Fellman

Executive Director

Phone: (301) 231-8388, ext. 11

E-mail: IAQglenn@...

[Guest guest]

Group --

This is well stated and objective, the IAQA is to be commended for their

persistance in making their postion clear. I forwarded a letter that basically

states the same concerns to the press secretary of one of our ranking

congressmen last week.

Its interesting that the IAQA is working with HUD on standards, and that office

has made recent statements that could be interpreted rather

differently than the IoM study remarks.

Lee (time to start using my last name)

> IAQA Seeks to Correct Misreporting on Implications of IOM Mold Report

> Media Misinformed Public on Health Effects of Mold in Government-

> Sponsored Report

> NOTE TO EDITORS: The following represents the opinion of IAGA

>

> ROCKVILLE, MD -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 06/17/2004 -- A recent report by

> the Institute of Medicine, which finds an association between

> conditions caused by indoor dampness and a laundry list of health

> effects, has largely been misunderstood and misrepresented among

> members of the general media.

>

> The Institute of Medicine has found sufficient evidence of an

> association between the presence of mold or other agents in damp

> indoor environments and the following health outcomes: upper

> respiratory tract symptoms, cough, wheeze, asthma symptoms in

> sensitized persons. It found limited or suggestive evidence of an

> association between the presence of agents in damp indoor

> environments and lower respiratory illness in otherwise healthy

> children.

>

> It is the position of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) that

> these findings should not be minimized. IAQA also believes that these

> findings should not be blown out of proportion. It is unfortunate

> that the public has already been exposed to both from the general

> media following the report's May 25 release.

>

> -- Scripps News Service issued an article bearing the

> headline, " Study: No evidence household mold causes major

> illness. "

> -- The Wall Street Journal printed an article bearing the

> headline, " Indoor Mold Linked to Problems Such as Asthma and

> Coughing. "

>

> IAQA believes that confusion over this sensitive topic could either

> prolong mass hysteria or lead to an unduly apathetic attitude. Either

> approach is counterproductive to the common good.

> On one hand, homeowners and building managers reading one article may

> think they have nothing to worry about if mold is in their buildings

> and it is, as one journalist notes, " about as dangerous as spoiled

> ketchup. " On the other hand, the people reading another article may

> be led to believe they should evacuate their homes and business

> immediately or else so-called " toxic mold " will kill them.

>

> Not only do the Institute of Medicine authors clearly state that

> there are no such things as toxic molds, but they rightfully suggest

> a middle-of-the-road viewpoint. While they have found no current

> science to establish a clear, causal link between mold and adverse

> health effects, they did not rule out that such a link exists. This

> is a crucial point that has overwhelmingly been lost in translation

> by the media.

>

> In the eyes of scientists, there is a clear-cut distinction between

> what they call an " association " and what they call a " link, " simply

> put, an association describes the relationship between two conditions

> that merely coexist, while a link describes the cause-and-effect

> relationship between one condition and another. This important

> distinction is often glossed over by the media, or the terms are

> incorrectly used interchangeably.

>

> Authors of the Institute of Medicine report have stated repeatedly

> that there is " a dearth of research " proving whether a causal link

> exists between indoor dampness and any health effects. Because of

> this, they have requested further study and presented guidelines for

> those studies.

>

> They also list no less than 15 other health symptoms that have been

> attributed to mold and other agents and that scientific research has

> not yet established sufficient evidence to determine whether an

> association exists between them and the presence of mold or other

> agents in damp environments. These include cancer, fatigue,

> reproductive effects, skin symptoms, lower respiratory illness in

> otherwise healthy adults, and airflow obstruction in otherwise

> healthy people.

>

> Furthermore, the authors have listed numerous concerns for damp

> buildings. Indoor dampness in general is " not your friend, " as stated

> by one member of the panel introducing the report at a May 25 press

> conference in Washington, D.C. Thus, the report urges the building

> community to develop steps to prevent indoor dampness before it

> should ever become a problem.

>

> Authors recommend action on the federal, state and local levels, and

> the report specifically recommends that a federal agency develop and

> disseminate consensus guidelines on building design, construction,

> operation and maintenance, with the goal of preventing indoor

> dampness. IAQA staff is working closely with the U.S. Department of

> Housing and Urban Development to determine whether the association

> could assist with such a project.

>

> The Institute of Medicine is a private, nonprofit institution that

> provides health policy advice under a congressional charter granted

> to the National Academy of Sciences. The full report, which was

> requested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can be

> read online at http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11011.html.

>

> The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) is a nonprofit,

> multidisciplinary organization, dedicated to promoting the exchange

> of indoor environmental information, through education and research,

> for the safety and well being of the general public. For more

> information on IAQA, visit www.iaqa.org or call (301) 231-8388.

>

> Indoor Air Quality Association

> 12339 Carroll Avenue

> Rockville, MD 20852

> (301) 231-8388

> Fax (301) 231-8321

> iaqa@a...

> www.iaqa.org

>

>

>

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

> ----------

>

>

> Media Contact:

> Glenn Fellman

> Executive Director

> Phone: (301) 231-8388, ext. 11

> E-mail: IAQglenn@a...

[Guest guest]

Group --

This is well stated and objective, the IAQA is to be commended for their

persistance in making their postion clear. I forwarded a letter that basically

states the same concerns to the press secretary of one of our ranking

congressmen last week.

Its interesting that the IAQA is working with HUD on standards, and that office

has made recent statements that could be interpreted rather

differently than the IoM study remarks.

Lee (time to start using my last name)

> IAQA Seeks to Correct Misreporting on Implications of IOM Mold Report

> Media Misinformed Public on Health Effects of Mold in Government-

> Sponsored Report

> NOTE TO EDITORS: The following represents the opinion of IAGA

>

> ROCKVILLE, MD -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 06/17/2004 -- A recent report by

> the Institute of Medicine, which finds an association between

> conditions caused by indoor dampness and a laundry list of health

> effects, has largely been misunderstood and misrepresented among

> members of the general media.

>

> The Institute of Medicine has found sufficient evidence of an

> association between the presence of mold or other agents in damp

> indoor environments and the following health outcomes: upper

> respiratory tract symptoms, cough, wheeze, asthma symptoms in

> sensitized persons. It found limited or suggestive evidence of an

> association between the presence of agents in damp indoor

> environments and lower respiratory illness in otherwise healthy

> children.

>

> It is the position of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) that

> these findings should not be minimized. IAQA also believes that these

> findings should not be blown out of proportion. It is unfortunate

> that the public has already been exposed to both from the general

> media following the report's May 25 release.

>

> -- Scripps News Service issued an article bearing the

> headline, " Study: No evidence household mold causes major

> illness. "

> -- The Wall Street Journal printed an article bearing the

> headline, " Indoor Mold Linked to Problems Such as Asthma and

> Coughing. "

>

> IAQA believes that confusion over this sensitive topic could either

> prolong mass hysteria or lead to an unduly apathetic attitude. Either

> approach is counterproductive to the common good.

> On one hand, homeowners and building managers reading one article may

> think they have nothing to worry about if mold is in their buildings

> and it is, as one journalist notes, " about as dangerous as spoiled

> ketchup. " On the other hand, the people reading another article may

> be led to believe they should evacuate their homes and business

> immediately or else so-called " toxic mold " will kill them.

>

> Not only do the Institute of Medicine authors clearly state that

> there are no such things as toxic molds, but they rightfully suggest

> a middle-of-the-road viewpoint. While they have found no current

> science to establish a clear, causal link between mold and adverse

> health effects, they did not rule out that such a link exists. This

> is a crucial point that has overwhelmingly been lost in translation

> by the media.

>

> In the eyes of scientists, there is a clear-cut distinction between

> what they call an " association " and what they call a " link, " simply

> put, an association describes the relationship between two conditions

> that merely coexist, while a link describes the cause-and-effect

> relationship between one condition and another. This important

> distinction is often glossed over by the media, or the terms are

> incorrectly used interchangeably.

>

> Authors of the Institute of Medicine report have stated repeatedly

> that there is " a dearth of research " proving whether a causal link

> exists between indoor dampness and any health effects. Because of

> this, they have requested further study and presented guidelines for

> those studies.

>

> They also list no less than 15 other health symptoms that have been

> attributed to mold and other agents and that scientific research has

> not yet established sufficient evidence to determine whether an

> association exists between them and the presence of mold or other

> agents in damp environments. These include cancer, fatigue,

> reproductive effects, skin symptoms, lower respiratory illness in

> otherwise healthy adults, and airflow obstruction in otherwise

> healthy people.

>

> Furthermore, the authors have listed numerous concerns for damp

> buildings. Indoor dampness in general is " not your friend, " as stated

> by one member of the panel introducing the report at a May 25 press

> conference in Washington, D.C. Thus, the report urges the building

> community to develop steps to prevent indoor dampness before it

> should ever become a problem.

>

> Authors recommend action on the federal, state and local levels, and

> the report specifically recommends that a federal agency develop and

> disseminate consensus guidelines on building design, construction,

> operation and maintenance, with the goal of preventing indoor

> dampness. IAQA staff is working closely with the U.S. Department of

> Housing and Urban Development to determine whether the association

> could assist with such a project.

>

> The Institute of Medicine is a private, nonprofit institution that

> provides health policy advice under a congressional charter granted

> to the National Academy of Sciences. The full report, which was

> requested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can be

> read online at http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11011.html.

>

> The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) is a nonprofit,

> multidisciplinary organization, dedicated to promoting the exchange

> of indoor environmental information, through education and research,

> for the safety and well being of the general public. For more

> information on IAQA, visit www.iaqa.org or call (301) 231-8388.

>

> Indoor Air Quality Association

> 12339 Carroll Avenue

> Rockville, MD 20852

> (301) 231-8388

> Fax (301) 231-8321

> iaqa@a...

> www.iaqa.org

>

>

>

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

> ----------

>

>

> Media Contact:

> Glenn Fellman

> Executive Director

> Phone: (301) 231-8388, ext. 11

> E-mail: IAQglenn@a...