Experts disagree on effects of mold exposure

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Experts disagree on effects of mold exposure

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The Lafayette Daily Advertiser Sun, 22 Apr 2007 0:57 AM PDT

Exposure to some molds can cause immune system disorders that are

progressive and last a lifetime, according to an expert in the area.

K. May B.S., R.N., B.S.N. , an OSHA Institute accredited

instructor and owner of a national consulting company, said exposure

to toxic mold should be taken seriously.

Research on mold, the toxins it creates and the impact on humans is

not conclusive, leaving room for controversy about methods of

testing both those exposed and their environment.

" It's a developing area of public health concern, " May said.

For parents at Plantation Elementary School, which is being tested

for toxic mold Monday and Tuesday, the scientific debate only adds

to the confusion.

On Friday, state Department of Health and Hospitals representatives

performed a visual inspection of the building. Their official

results have not been released. However, representatives on Friday

told Plantation parents the school appeared safe.

Seven Plantation children have tested positive to exposure to a

toxin the mold Stachybotrys can produce. However, that test is not

FDA approved. The children who tested positive have had symptoms

ranging from vomiting, blackouts and diarrhea to muscle cramps and

chronic sinus infections.

May said once exposed to toxic molds, symptoms do not go away. She

said symptoms, like headaches, stomachaches, vomiting and burning in

the throat, will flare up when someone is exposed again.

May said removing someone from the environment does not cure them

from the toxins. She also said once the immune system is impacted by

the toxins, people become much more sensitive to any type of mold.

" It's progressive, " she said. " It can cause chronic fatigue

syndrome, fibromyalgia and chemical-induced lupus. "

However, one Lafayette allergist, Brent Prather, who performed a

visual tour of Plantation Elementary, said the school where the mold

was found appeared safe and encouraged parents to visit him for a

second opinion.

Stachybotrys is often referred to as black mold and can create

toxins. The toxins that Stachybotrys can create can damage the

immune system, May said.

" It's not an allergy, " she said. " This is an immune system disorder. "

On Saturday, the Lafayette Parish School System began testing and

cleaning at Plantation Elementary. The school will be closed Monday

and Tuesday for the process that is slated to cost $85,000.

The plan is to test the school using several methods, clean the

school and then test again before students return Wednesday.

However, the results of the testing will not be available by the

time student are back in class.

Although May could not comment specifically on the Plantation case,

she did say mold remediation can require removing the pipes from

ventilation systems.

" Wiping it down will not solve it, " she said. " Remove the source.

You can't wipe it clean. This stuff grows and moves. "

During spring break, the school system performed remediation on the

school's band room, which showed high levels of Stachybotrys. The

school system performed a remediation of the room, closed it to

students and tested again. They released the results that showed

normal levels of mold Thursday.

On Monday, parents began asking for the entire school to be tested.

On Friday, the district announced the school would be closed to be

tested and cleaned.

According to May, there is not an appropriate test for the mold

exposure. She said eliminating other possible reasons for illness is

the best method. It's a method that has been followed by some of the

parents at Plantation who have taken their children to myriad

doctors with no results before turning to the explanation that

something at the school is making their children sick.

The tests used to measure the Plantation children's exposure is a

urine test that looks for a mycotoxin called trichothecene. However,

that test is not FDA approved. The links between Stachybotrys,

mycotoxins and illness still are being researched.

May said the toxins that impact the body can live in fat cells for a

lifetime. She said the progression of illness and severity of

symptoms depends on genetics and the amount of exposure.

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[Guest guest]

maybe title should say one expert and a expert wana-be.

>

> Experts disagree on effects of mold exposure

>

> aharris@...

>

> http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

> AID=/20070422/NEWS01/704220371

>

> The Lafayette Daily Advertiser Sun, 22 Apr 2007 0:57 AM PDT

>

>

> Exposure to some molds can cause immune system disorders that are

> progressive and last a lifetime, according to an expert in the area.

> K. May B.S., R.N., B.S.N. , an OSHA Institute accredited

> instructor and owner of a national consulting company, said

exposure

> to toxic mold should be taken seriously.

>

>

>

> Research on mold, the toxins it creates and the impact on humans is

> not conclusive, leaving room for controversy about methods of

> testing both those exposed and their environment.

>

> " It's a developing area of public health concern, " May said.

> For parents at Plantation Elementary School, which is being tested

> for toxic mold Monday and Tuesday, the scientific debate only adds

> to the confusion.

>

> On Friday, state Department of Health and Hospitals representatives

> performed a visual inspection of the building. Their official

> results have not been released. However, representatives on Friday

> told Plantation parents the school appeared safe.

>

> Seven Plantation children have tested positive to exposure to a

> toxin the mold Stachybotrys can produce. However, that test is not

> FDA approved. The children who tested positive have had symptoms

> ranging from vomiting, blackouts and diarrhea to muscle cramps and

> chronic sinus infections.

>

> May said once exposed to toxic molds, symptoms do not go away. She

> said symptoms, like headaches, stomachaches, vomiting and burning

in

> the throat, will flare up when someone is exposed again.

>

> May said removing someone from the environment does not cure them

> from the toxins. She also said once the immune system is impacted

by

> the toxins, people become much more sensitive to any type of mold.

>

> " It's progressive, " she said. " It can cause chronic fatigue

> syndrome, fibromyalgia and chemical-induced lupus. "

>

> However, one Lafayette allergist, Brent Prather, who performed a

> visual tour of Plantation Elementary, said the school where the

mold

> was found appeared safe and encouraged parents to visit him for a

> second opinion.

>

> Stachybotrys is often referred to as black mold and can create

> toxins. The toxins that Stachybotrys can create can damage the

> immune system, May said.

>

> " It's not an allergy, " she said. " This is an immune system

disorder. "

>

> On Saturday, the Lafayette Parish School System began testing and

> cleaning at Plantation Elementary. The school will be closed Monday

> and Tuesday for the process that is slated to cost $85,000.

>

> The plan is to test the school using several methods, clean the

> school and then test again before students return Wednesday.

> However, the results of the testing will not be available by the

> time student are back in class.

>

> Although May could not comment specifically on the Plantation case,

> she did say mold remediation can require removing the pipes from

> ventilation systems.

>

> " Wiping it down will not solve it, " she said. " Remove the source.

> You can't wipe it clean. This stuff grows and moves. "

>

> During spring break, the school system performed remediation on the

> school's band room, which showed high levels of Stachybotrys. The

> school system performed a remediation of the room, closed it to

> students and tested again. They released the results that showed

> normal levels of mold Thursday.

>

> On Monday, parents began asking for the entire school to be tested.

> On Friday, the district announced the school would be closed to be

> tested and cleaned.

>

> According to May, there is not an appropriate test for the mold

> exposure. She said eliminating other possible reasons for illness

is

> the best method. It's a method that has been followed by some of

the

> parents at Plantation who have taken their children to myriad

> doctors with no results before turning to the explanation that

> something at the school is making their children sick.

>

> The tests used to measure the Plantation children's exposure is a

> urine test that looks for a mycotoxin called trichothecene.

However,

> that test is not FDA approved. The links between Stachybotrys,

> mycotoxins and illness still are being researched.

>

> May said the toxins that impact the body can live in fat cells for

a

> lifetime. She said the progression of illness and severity of

> symptoms depends on genetics and the amount of exposure.

>

>

>

>

>

> Post a Comment View All Comments

>