Re: Mold in the home: A problem or nothing to worry about?

[Guest guest]

Dear Ms. Ortegon,

My name is Sharon Kramer. I advocate for those who are sick from mold, yet

are unable to obtain viable medical treatment because of all the confusing

information over the matter. I was sent your article. Very well written.

Thank you for bringing to light how there are many self professed experts over

this issue.

There is a correction needed within the article. The following is not

accurate:

" While studies show a link between health problems in workers and mold in

occupational or industrial settings, Chamberlain said, no similar link has been

found on a residential level. "

I could cite many scientific papers on this, but will only cite one.

" Residential indoor air quality guideline for moulds. " It has recently been

enacted

into law in Canada regarding mold within a residential setting. If you could

run this correction, it would be greatly appreciated. No one wants to see

families left unaware of a true environmental danger because some " experts "

speak without reading.

Sincerely,

Sharon Kramer

_http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/notices/NoticeText.cfm?intNotice=400 & intDocume\

nt=2692_

(http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/notices/NoticeText.cfm?intNotice=400 & intDocume\

nt=2692)

" ..significant associations were found between home dampness and the risk of

developing asthma "

" Mould growth can influence air quality because both spores and mycelial

fragments are dispersed into the air and can be inhaled. Their penetration into

the bronchial tree depends on their size. The smaller particles penetrate

deeper into the lungs. "

" Exposure to indoor mould is associated with an increased prevalence of

asthma-related symptoms such as chronic wheezing, irritation symptoms, and

non-specific symptoms; and

In laboratory animal studies, instillation of fungal antigens (Penicillium

sp. and Aspergillus sp.) and fungal cell components [(1->3)-ß-D-glucan]

resulted in an inflammatory response in the lungs of rodents, while

instillation of

Stachbotrys chartarum spores resulted in severe histological and biochemical

changes. "

[ _Notices_ (http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/Notices/Default.cfm) |

_Search_ (http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/Notices/) | _2007_

(http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/notices/NoticeList.cfm?intYear=2007) ]

2007-03-31 - Canada Gazette Part I, Vol. 141 No. 13

Residential indoor air quality guideline for moulds

Pursuant to subsection 55(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act,

1999, the Minister of Health hereby gives notice of the issuance of a

residential indoor air quality guideline for moulds. After reviewing the most

recent

scientific evidence regarding moulds and their effects on health, the

Minister recommends

to control humidity and diligently repair any water damage in residences to

prevent mould growth; and

to clean thoroughly any visible or concealed mould growing in residential

buildings.

These recommendations apply regardless of the mould species found to be

growing in the building.

March 12, 2007

PAUL GLOVER

Director General

Safe Environments Programme

On behalf of the Minister of Health

ANNEX

RESIDENTIAL INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINE

MOULDS

Physical and chemical properties

The word " mould " is a common term referring to fungi that can grow on

building materials in homes or other buildings. Mould growth can influence air

quality because both spores and mycelial fragments are dispersed into the air

and

can be inhaled. Their penetration into the bronchial tree depends on their

size. The smaller particles penetrate deeper into the lungs.

Three features of mould biochemistry are of special interest in terms of

human health:

Mould cell walls contain (1->3)-ß-D-glucan, a compound with inflammatory

properties;

Mould spores and mycelial fragments contain allergens; and

The spores of some species contain low molecular weight chemicals that are

cytotoxic or have other toxic properties (e.g. satratoxins and atranones

produced by Stachybotrys chartarum).

Causes of mould growth

Mould growth in a house requires the presence of nutrients, an adequate

temperature, and a sufficient amount of water. The first two requirements being

usually met in indoor environments, fungal growth usually results from a

moisture problem (CMHC 2003). Major causes of mould growth are

condensation of moisture on surfaces due to excessive humidity, lack of

ventilation, or low temperature;

water leakage, e.g. from a broken pipe;

infiltration of water from the outside, e.g. from a leaking roof or a cracked

basement; and

a flood.

Health effects

Health Canada has carried out two reviews of the scientific literature

pertaining to the health effects of indoor moulds (Health Canada 1995; 2004).

The

Institut national de santé publique du Québec also published a review on this

subject (d'Halewyn et al. 2003). The following conclusions were drawn:

Exposure to indoor mould is associated with an increased prevalence of

asthma-related symptoms such as chronic wheezing, irritation symptoms, and

non-specific symptoms; and

In laboratory animal studies, instillation of fungal antigens (Penicillium

sp. and Aspergillus sp.) and fungal cell components [(1->3)-ß-D-glucan]

resulted in an inflammatory response in the lungs of rodents, while instillation

of

Stachbotrys chartarum spores resulted in severe histological and biochemical

changes.

These conclusions have been supported by more recent findings. In two cohort

studies (Wickman et al. 2003; Jaakkola et al. 2005), significant associations

were found between home dampness and the risk of developing asthma. In

experimental studies, asthma-like responses were observed in mice following

exposure to a typical building-associated fungus, Penicillium chrysogenum (Chung

et al. 2005), and inflammatory responses were seen in rats exposed to low doses

of toxins from the same species (Rand et al. 2005).

Residential Indoor Air Quality Guideline

Health Canada considers that mould growth in residential buildings may pose a

health hazard. Health risks depend on exposure and, for asthma symptoms, on

allergic sensitization. However, the large number of mould species and

strains growing in buildings and the large inter-individual variability in

human

response to mould exposure preclude the derivation of exposure limits.

Therefore, Health Canada recommends

to control humidity and diligently repair any water damage in residences to

prevent mould growth; and

to clean thoroughly any visible or concealed mould growing in residential

buildings.

These recommendations apply regardless of the mould species found to be

growing in the building.

Further, in the absence of exposure limits, results from tests for the

presence of fungi in air cannot be used to assess risks to the health of

building

occupants.

References

CHMC 2003. Clean-up Procedures for Mold in Houses. Revised ed. Ottawa: Canada

Mortgage and Housing Corporation. ISBN 0-660-19227-6.

Chung, Y. J., Coates, N. H., Viana, M. E., Copeland, L., Vesper, S. J.,

Selgrade, M. K., Ward, M. D. W. 2005. Dose-dependent allergic responses to an

extract of Penicillium chrysogenum in BALB/c mice. Toxicology 209: 77-89.

d'Halewyn, M. A., Leclerc, J. M., King, N., Bélanger, M., Legris, M. and

Frenette, Y. 2002. Les risques à la santé associés à la présence de

moisissures

en milieu intérieur. Québec: Institut national de santé publique du Québec.

105 p. + appendices.

Health Canada 1995. Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: a Guide to

Recognition and Management. Ottawa: Health Canada.

Health Canada 2004. Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: Health Effects

and Investigation Methods. Ottawa: Health Canada. ISBN 0-662-37432-0. 47 p.

Jaakkola, J. J. K., Hwang, B. F., Jaakkola, N. 2005. Home dampness and molds,

parental atopy, and asthma in childhood: a six-year population-based cohort

study. Environmental Health Perspectives 113: 357-361.

Rand, T. G., Giles, S., Flemming, J., , J. D., Puniani, E. 2005.

Inflammatory and cytotoxic responses in mouse lungs exposed to purified toxins

from building isolated Penicillium brevicompactum Dierckx and P. chrysogenum

Thom. Toxicological Sciences 87: 213-222.

Wickman, M., Melen, E., Berglind, N., Lennart Nordvall, S., Almqvist, C.,

Kull, I., Svartengren, M., Pershagen, G. 2003. Strategies for preventing

wheezing and asthma in small children. Allergy 58: 742-747.

[13-1-o]

Mark Chamberlain who is referrenced in this article I had been in

contact with for a short period of time and he was also a board

member for a very short period of time. Now I see why. I guess being

a critic actually seeing the truth of the negative effects of these

toxins on ones health was too much for him to handle, since it went

against his opinion. I tried to get him to stay on Sickbuildings to

learn, but he said he was leaving due to conflict and personal

reasons. I understand his reasoning now, he had a different agenda

and it wasn't for the primary concern for human health.

I had contacted him because they had had an outbreak of " strange "

illnesses, really related to fungal exposure. It was in the media,

but he claimed not to be aware of it. Maybe he was blinded by the

mold...

KC

Mold in the home: A problem or nothing to worry about?

Even the experts don't agree on its threat to health

By Janet Ortegon

Sheboygan Press staff - Sheboygan,WI,

_http://www.sheboygahttp://www.shttp://wwwhttp://www.s_

(http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?)

AID=/20070430/AID=/20070430/<WAID=/2

After a local family made the news earlier this year because of mold

growth that drove them from their south-side Sheboygan home, the

question has been asked around dinner tables all over town: Does our

home have mold?

And the answer, without exception, is yes. It doesn't matter how old

or new it is, whether it's a drafty old structure or a tightly

sealed new building — every house has mold.

But even mold experts disagree on whether household mold poses a

risk to human health.

Mark Chamberlain is an environmental health specialist for the

Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services specializing in

human health hazards.

" There are mold spores everywhere, " Chamberlain said. " You will not

be mold-free. "

Whether or not you have mold is the wrong question for homeowners to

ask, Chamberlain said.

" If they find mold in their house, the big thing they need to do is

find out why it's growing there, " Chamberlain said. " When people say

they have a mold problem in their home, they actually have a water

problem in their home and they need to find out where it's coming

from. "

Gobbel, owner of Mold Spore Technologies in Cascade, has spent

the last four months gutting and remediating Brad and

Veenendaal's mold-infested house at 1418 Came-lot Blvd. He said the

flood that hit Sheboygan County in August 1998 has caused a lot of

mold problems in the area.

" In Sheboygan I see it a lot, " Gobbel said. " A lot if it is from

when it flooded back then. A lot of my work is from … Drive

where (Highway) 42 is and South Business Drive all the way to the

lake. I would say 60 to 70 percent of our work is there. "

Buchmann, a Realtor with Three Oaks Realty, called Gobbel when

she spotted the telltale black marks in the bathroom of her home. It

kept coming back even after she scrubbed it, so she called in an

expert and got a surprise.

" The mold in the bathroom turned out to be nothing, " Buchmann said.

As a real estate agent, Buchmann deals with home buyers and sellers

every day. Though she's not an expert on mold, she's being asked

about it more and more.

" Buyers are reading more about it, " she said. " If they see it and

they ask me, 'Is that mold?' I don't know if it's mold. (You have

to) talk to an expert to figure that out. If somebody has a question

for me … or if I notice wetness … I recommend they call . "

But there is no comprehensive record of how many county dwellings

have had mold problems, Chamberlain said.

" We don't have a (mold) database, " he said.

The Veenendaals and their 2-year-old daughter, Makenna, fled their

home when the extent of the mold problem there became known. It was

Gobbel's idea.

" I advised them, because the stachy was so high, to move out of the

house, " Gobbel said. Stachybotrys is a form of mold sometimes

referred to as " black mold " or " toxic mold, " and there were other

forms of mold found in the house as well.

By then, Brad, 36, had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, and

Makenna was born with 's Syndrome, a rare chromosomal

abnormality that affects her heart and kidneys.

Is the mold to blame for those problems? The answer depends on whom

you talk to.

The Veenendaals have said they believe the mold in their home is

responsible. But there is no scientific proof.

" There's never been a documented case where mold ever sickened

anybody, " said Werner Binkowsky, president of Lakeshore Insulation

Services and a mold consultant. " I think people think they're being

sickened by mold. "

While studies show a link between health problems in workers and

mold in occupational or industrial settings, Chamberlain said, no

similar link has been found on a residential level.

" In residential settings, there really haven't been studies that

have proven a direct correlation,have proven a direct correlation,

say there aren't people out there who are affected. Obviously,

there's a lot of anecdotal information.th

When Gobbel got the results of air samples he did inside the

Veenendaal house, he was appalled, he said.

" Their count with the toxin mold was a lot higher than it should've

been, " Gobbel said.

Test results showed that there were 1,227 stachybotrys spores per

cubic meter in Makenna's nursery. In the parents' room, the count

was 10,000. " You should not have any stachy at all in the house, " he

said.

When he takes air tests, he compares the air inside the home to

fresh air outside.

" The count outside should always be higher than your count inside, "

Gobbel said. " Once your mold counts inside are higher, then you have

a problem. "

But Chamberlain, who does home inspections and advises homeowners

how to address the problems that pose health hazards, doesn't agree.

" You can't take mold samples inside a house right now and compare

them to outside because right now we have had such fluctuations in

temperatures that mold will not be growing outside, " Chamberlain

said. " That is not a fair comparison. "

In fact, both Chamberlain and Binkowsky said once a homeowner has

discovered mold in the house, tests to determine what kind of mold

it is are essentially useless.

" It really doesn't matter the particular type of mold, " Chamberlain

said. " What matters is the fact that they get rid of it, and they

get rid of it in a safe manner. "

Or, as Binkowsky put it: " Our theory is if it's mold, it's mold.

Find out why it's growing and then get rid of that problem. "

What can homeowners do?

Binkowsky said that in all the work he's done with homeowners and

mold eradication, he's heard of few cases as extensive as the

Veenendaals' home.

The experts disagree on what homeowners can do to help themselves.

Gobbel said homeowners have to call in an expert to solve the

problem.

" What they should do is if they even think they've got a problem

with mold, they need to go ahead and call somebody to do a test, "

Gobbel said. " A test is the only way it's gonna tell you. "

But Binkowsky said homeowners can get rid of the mold by reducing

humidity.

" Mold grows in 50 percent relative humidity or higher, " he said. " In

most cases, we solve mold problems just by something very simple

people can do themselves. "

For example, installing exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen —

and making sure they vent outside and not into the attic — is one

good way to cut the humidity in the house, he said.

Another is to invest in a hygrometer, a device used for measuring

the humidity inside the house, Binkowsky said.

Chamberlain cautioned homeowners to take the seasons into

consideration, however.

" You're going to have 60-70 percent humidity in the summertime if

you're somebody that doesn't use air conditioning,you're somebod

said. " The key that people need to be aware of is that every home

has mold and that it's not a problem as long as you … prevent water

from getting into the home. "

Reach Janet Ortegon at _jortegon@sheboygan-jortegon@_

(mailto:jortegon@...) or 453-5121.

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Hello Ms. Kramer:

Thank you for writing. I read over the information you sent, looked at my

own research and talked to my editor. The result is we are not going to run a

correction on the point you mentioned. The reason is that although Canada has

passed a law that recognizes the effects of mold in a residential setting,

there have been no such advances in the U.S. so far.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, " To

date, no scientific evidence exists to positively link residential exposure to

mold with specific toxic effects. " Here's the link:

_http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/eh/HlthHaz/fs/moldinfo.htm#Cause_

(http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/eh/HlthHaz/fs/moldinfo.htm#Cause) .

I'd like to be able to make the correction you're asking for, but until our

laws change as well, my information is accurate.

Thank you.

Janet Ortegon

The Sheboygan Press

632 Center Ave.

Sheboygan, WI 53081

(920) 453-5121

www.sheboygan-press.com

jortegon@...

Your mold article..well written, but an error.

Dear Ms. Ortegon,

My name is Sharon Kramer. I advocate for those who are sick from mold, yet

are unable to obtain viable medical treatment because of all the confusing

information over the matter. I was sent your article. Very well written.

Thank you for bringing to light how there are many self professed experts over

this issue.

There is a correction needed within the article. The following is not

accurate:

" While studies show a link between health problems in workers and mold in

occupational or industrial settings, Chamberlain said, no similar link has been

found on a residential level. "

I could cite many scientific papers on this, but will only cite one.

" Residential indoor air quality guideline for moulds. " It has recently been

enacted

into law in Canada regarding mold within a residential setting. If you could

run this correction, it would be greatly appreciated. No one wants to see

families left unaware of a true environmental danger because some " experts "

speak without reading.

Sincerely,

Sharon Kramer

_http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/notices/NoticeText.cfm?intNotice=400 & intDocume\

nt=2692_

(http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/notices/NoticeText.cfm?intNotice=400 & intDocume\

nt=2692)

" ..significant associations were found between home dampness and the risk of

developing asthma "

" Mould growth can influence air quality because both spores and mycelial

fragments are dispersed into the air and can be inhaled. Their penetration into

the bronchial tree depends on their size. The smaller particles penetrate

deeper into the lungs. "

" Exposure to indoor mould is associated with an increased prevalence of

asthma-related symptoms such as chronic wheezing, irritation symptoms, and

non-specific symptoms; and

In laboratory animal studies, instillation of fungal antigens (Penicillium

sp. and Aspergillus sp.) and fungal cell components [(1->3)-ß-D-glucan]

resulted in an inflammatory response in the lungs of rodents, while

instillation of

Stachbotrys chartarum spores resulted in severe histological and biochemical

changes. "

[ _Notices_ (http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/Notices/Default.cfm) |

_Search_ (http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/Notices/) | _2007_

(http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/notices/NoticeList.cfm?intYear=2007) ]

2007-03-31 - Canada Gazette Part I, Vol. 141 No. 13

Residential indoor air quality guideline for moulds

Pursuant to subsection 55(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act,

1999, the Minister of Health hereby gives notice of the issuance of a

residential indoor air quality guideline for moulds. After reviewing the most

recent

scientific evidence regarding moulds and their effects on health, the

Minister recommends

to control humidity and diligently repair any water damage in residences to

prevent mould growth; and

to clean thoroughly any visible or concealed mould growing in residential

buildings.

These recommendations apply regardless of the mould species found to be

growing in the building.

March 12, 2007

PAUL GLOVER

Director General

Safe Environments Programme

On behalf of the Minister of Health

ANNEX

RESIDENTIAL INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINE

MOULDS

Physical and chemical properties

The word " mould " is a common term referring to fungi that can grow on

building materials in homes or other buildings. Mould growth can influence air

quality because both spores and mycelial fragments are dispersed into the air

and

can be inhaled. Their penetration into the bronchial tree depends on their

size. The smaller particles penetrate deeper into the lungs.

Three features of mould biochemistry are of special interest in terms of

human health:

Mould cell walls contain (1->3)-ß-D-glucan, a compound with inflammatory

properties;

Mould spores and mycelial fragments contain allergens; and

The spores of some species contain low molecular weight chemicals that are

cytotoxic or have other toxic properties (e.g. satratoxins and atranones

produced by Stachybotrys chartarum).

Causes of mould growth

Mould growth in a house requires the presence of nutrients, an adequate

temperature, and a sufficient amount of water. The first two requirements being

usually met in indoor environments, fungal growth usually results from a

moisture problem (CMHC 2003). Major causes of mould growth are

condensation of moisture on surfaces due to excessive humidity, lack of

ventilation, or low temperature;

water leakage, e.g. from a broken pipe;

infiltration of water from the outside, e.g. from a leaking roof or a

cracked basement; and

a flood.

Health effects

Health Canada has carried out two reviews of the scientific literature

pertaining to the health effects of indoor moulds (Health Canada 1995; 2004).

The

Institut national de santé publique du Québec also published a review on this

subject (d'Halewyn et al. 2003). The following conclusions were drawn:

Exposure to indoor mould is associated with an increased prevalence of

asthma-related symptoms such as chronic wheezing, irritation symptoms, and

non-specific symptoms; and

In laboratory animal studies, instillation of fungal antigens (Penicillium

sp. and Aspergillus sp.) and fungal cell components [(1->3)-ß-D-glucan]

resulted in an inflammatory response in the lungs of rodents, while

instillation of

Stachbotrys chartarum spores resulted in severe histological and biochemical

changes.

These conclusions have been supported by more recent findings. In two cohort

studies (Wickman et al. 2003; Jaakkola et al. 2005), significant

associations were found between home dampness and the risk of developing

asthma. In

experimental studies, asthma-like responses were observed in mice following

exposure to a typical building-associated fungus, Penicillium chrysogenum

(Chung

et al. 2005), and inflammatory responses were seen in rats exposed to low

doses of toxins from the same species (Rand et al. 2005).

Residential Indoor Air Quality Guideline

Health Canada considers that mould growth in residential buildings may pose

a health hazard. Health risks depend on exposure and, for asthma symptoms, on

allergic sensitization. However, the large number of mould species and

strains growing in buildings and the large inter-individual variability in

human

response to mould exposure preclude the derivation of exposure limits.

Therefore, Health Canada recommends

to control humidity and diligently repair any water damage in residences to

prevent mould growth; and

to clean thoroughly any visible or concealed mould growing in residential

buildings.

These recommendations apply regardless of the mould species found to be

growing in the building.

Further, in the absence of exposure limits, results from tests for the

presence of fungi in air cannot be used to assess risks to the health of

building

occupants.

References

CHMC 2003. Clean-up Procedures for Mold in Houses. Revised ed. Ottawa:

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. ISBN 0-660-19227-6.

Chung, Y. J., Coates, N. H., Viana, M. E., Copeland, L., Vesper, S. J.,

Selgrade, M. K., Ward, M. D. W. 2005. Dose-dependent allergic responses to an

extract of Penicillium chrysogenum in BALB/c mice. Toxicology 209: 77-89.

d'Halewyn, M. A., Leclerc, J. M., King, N., Bélanger, M., Legris, M. and

Frenette, Y. 2002. Les risques à la santé associés à la présence de moisissures

en milieu intérieur. Québec: Institut national de santé publique du Québec.

105 p. + appendices.

Health Canada 1995. Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: a Guide to

Recognition and Management. Ottawa: Health Canada.

Health Canada 2004. Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: Health Effects

and Investigation Methods. Ottawa: Health Canada. ISBN 0-662-37432-0. 47 p.

Jaakkola, J. J. K., Hwang, B. F., Jaakkola, N. 2005. Home dampness and

molds, parental atopy, and asthma in childhood: a six-year population-based

cohort

study. Environmental Health Perspectives 113: 357-361.

Rand, T. G., Giles, S., Flemming, J., , J. D., Puniani, E. 2005.

Inflammatory and cytotoxic responses in mouse lungs exposed to purified toxins

from building isolated Penicillium brevicompactum Dierckx and P. chrysogenum

Thom. Toxicological Sciences 87: 213-222.

Wickman, M., Melen, E., Berglind, N., Lennart Nordvall, S., Almqvist, C.,

Kull, I., Svartengren, M., Pershagen, G. 2003. Strategies for preventing

wheezing and asthma in small children. Allergy 58: 742-747.

[13-1-o]

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.