Study funded by Clorox corp. regarding toxic mold

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Mold Allergy a Greater Health Concern Than Toxic Mold

From An ACAAI News Release

Mold Usually Harmful Only in Large Concentrations to Allergic Individuals

Mold is normally present in all homes, but is usually harmful only in large

concentrations

to allergic or sensitive individuals according to a report published in the

March 2005

ls of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

" Although toxic mold has received much media attention lately, toxic reactions

caused by

fungal exposure have not been found to be a significant health problem, " said

lead author

Jay M. Portnoy, The Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. " The more

common

household molds, when in the presence of moisture, can proliferate and cause

problems

and health effects that are generally due to allergy or irritation to fungal

substances. "

Fungi, including molds, are spore-producing organisms that comprise some 25

percent of

the earth's biomass and function as decomposers of organic material. The most

common

fungi found in homes include Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria,

basidiospores, Chaetomium, Periconia and Stachybotrys.

According to the report, fungal allergy is best identified by testing for the

presence of

mold-specific IgE antibodies, combined with a history of symptoms following

exposure.

Once the specific IgE has formed, subsequent exposure to the fungus can result

in an

allergic reaction. Exposure to fungi has been linked to a wide range of

illnesses, including

asthma and rhinitis. More than 80 types of mold have been associated with

respiratory

tract disorders.

" A number of studies have suggested that exposure to indoor fungi can trigger

allergy

symptoms. Fungal exposure is also associated with exacerbations of asthma,

although it

remains unclear that this exposure causes the disease, " Dr. Portnoy said.

Adverse health symptoms associated with fungal contact also include fungal

infection,

irritant reaction to spores or fungal metabolites, and toxic reaction to

mycotoxins,

described in the report as follows:

Infection: Most common indoor fungi grow near room temperature and do not easily

grow

inside the human body. Aspergillus is the most likely to cause respiratory

infections,

where most other fungi tend to infect the skin, nails and other areas of the

body that

function a lower temperatures.

Irritant: An irritant reaction to fungi exposure causes inflammation and can

happen

without previous hypersensitivity. Substances produced by fungi that are

suspected to

cause irritant reactions include microbially derived volatile organic compounds

(MVOCs),

ergosterols and glucans. MVOCs are produced by fungi as a byproduct of their

metabolism, and their health effects are undetermined. They may cause nontoxic

adverse

effects as irritants or trigger psychological effects because of their odor.

Toxic reactions

do not likely occur as a result of MVOC exposure due to the low concentrations

present in

even the most contaminated environments.

Toxic reaction: Most toxic reactions to fungi occur as a result of eating mold-

contaminated foods. A toxic reaction is unlikely to occur from inhalation of

fungi since the

amount of exposure generally is too low to cause health effects.

Indoor levels of airborne fungi are generally below outdoor levels of similar

species in a

well-constructed home without water damage. There can be some contribution from

indoor sources, such as plants, pets and mold contaminates brought in on

footwear and

clothing.

" The best known management of indoor fungal contamination is prevention, " Dr.

Portnoy

said. " Regular inspection for sources of moisture and their elimination is the

most

important strategy to control indoor fungal growth. Since fungal growth depends

on

moisture and a carbon source, the most important strategy for reducing or

eliminating its

growth is controlling the amount of moisture present. "

Although the presence of damp conditions and carpets increases spore counts --

forced

air-heating systems, dehumidifiers, air filters, and air conditioners reduces

them. The

authors suggest the following additional steps to prevent mold growth: maintain

indoor

relative humidity at no greater than 50 percent; seal all leaks to prevent water

accumulation and use a sump pump in basements prone to flooding; and increase

the use

of bathroom and kitchen ventilation by using exhaust fans.

" An individual should not panic at the first sight of mold growing in their

home, " said Dr.

Portnoy. " Small areas of visible mold growth should be cleaned with a dilute

bleach/

detergent solution, which kills viable colonies and removes fungal allergens.

Commercial

products are available for this purpose, " said Dr. Portnoy.

Citation: Portnoy, JM, et al. Health effects of indoor fungi. Ann Allergy Asthma

Immunol

2005;94:313-320.

This study was supported in part by a grant from the Clorox Corporation.

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