Re: Dr. Shoemaker's submission to the National Toxicology Program - a PDF worth downloading and saving

December 1, 2007

LiveSimply,

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Four quick points (out

of a possible many).

1. Although this is on a government Web site, it is Dr Shoemaker's

submission to them. Don't confuse it with an offcial government

position.

2. It is important to understand his definition of " mold illness. "

( " WDB " means " water damaged buildings. " )

I will use the term, " mold illness, " in this summary to save time:

what I mean by the term " mold illness " is a chronic, biotoxin

associated illness acquired following exposure to interior

environments of WDB with resident toxigenic organisms, including but

not limited to fungi, bacteria, mycobacteria and actinomycetes; as

well as inflammagens such as beta glucans, VOCs, proteinases,

hemolysins and particulates made by those organisms, and others as

yet identified. Solely focusing on molds as a source of public health

concern would be a serious error in assessment. Please look at WDB as

the unit of exposure and not just molds!

I would hope that participants of this list be aware of this

definition and adopt it as " what we mean " when we talk about " mold

illness " or being ill from mold exposure. As you will see from

reading it, it is more than just mold. Dr Shoemaker's definition

lists multiple components of mold plus several others substances.

Also, mold is not just spores. I emphasize this because the spore is

the ONLY component of mold that can be detected with current routine

testing methods. (PCR will detect only the DNA, whether in the spore

or the bio-mass, but no other components).

3. Consider also this statement on page 1, just before the

definition:

My request to NTP is to investigate " mold illness " by recognizing

that the illness is multi-factorial and that no single agent,

especially mycotoxins, is the source of illness symptoms.

4. Finally, bragging rights to the Indoor Air Quality Association

(IAQA) of which I am a Vice President. The power point at the end of

Dr Shoemaker's submission to NTP is the one he presented at the IAQA

conference medical panel October 14. If you didn't already request

his presentation from me, you can now download it yourself as part of

his NTP submission at:

http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/files/ShoeNTP_12_06_07w_attach.pdf

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> There is a 97 page PDF full of useful information on mold illness,

> including a long list of papers on water damaged buildings, fungi and

> health, descriptions

> of many tests that can be used to demonstrate or help treat biotoxin

> illness. Everyone should download this.

>

> http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/files/ShoeNTP_12_06_07w_attach.pdf

>

> The other mold-related NTP submissions are very much worth downloading

> too. There is too much to describe in detail.

>

> The index is at

>

http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=3FE6EBC0-F1F6-975E-74ECD0F0B83EFF34

>

> Right click or control-click on the link, then pick 'Save file as' or

> 'Save to Disk'

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

December 2, 2007

There is a lot of interesting stuff in there!

I was amazed to find this in Dr. Shoemakers' NTP PDF on page 11

" MSH: Alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) is a 13 amino acid compound

formed in the ventromedial nucleus (VMN) of the hypothalamus, solitary

nucleus and

arcuate nucleus by cleavage of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) to yield

beta-endorphin and

MSH. MSH exerts inductive regulatory effects on production of hypothalamic

endorphins and melatonin. MSH has multiple anti-inflammatory and neurohormonal

regulatory functions, exerting regulatory control on peripheral

cytokine release as well as

on both anterior and posterior pituitary function. Deficiency of MSH,

commonly seen in

biotoxin-associated illnesses, is associated with impairment of

multiple regulatory

functions and dysregulation of pituitary hormone release. Symptoms

associated with

MSH deficiency include chronic fatigue and chronic, unusual pain

syndromes. Normal

values of MSH established in research labs and in commercial labs are

35-81 pg/ml. I

note that the recent shift in normal range for MSH from LabCorp to

0-40 pg/ml was made

following the receipt of so many low values of MSH. I have questioned

both Dr. Andre

Valcour and Dr. Marsella of LabCorp about this change; they

have received

case/control data sets from me and assure me that they will review the

adjustment of

normal ranges that were made only after lumping values for cases and

control together.

No lab, including LabCorp, can logically equate a case value of a test

with a control value

for a test. "

That is pretty scary that they would start saying that '0' was a

'normal' value of MSH

just because a LOT of people are sick!

That indicates just how bad of a problem biotoxin illness is!

>

http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/files/ShoeNTP_12_06_07w_attach.pdf

December 3, 2007

Carl,

I agree, however the concern is that the emphasis on exposure to the

multiple contaminants within water damaged buildings may end up being

used as a means to divert away from the toxigenic aspects of molds

such as with the mycotoxins. I am in no way negating the serious

effects of other contaminates. The definition you provide to " mold

illness " is an excellent one. I just wish that mold was not a

political issue, but alas it is, and we must be cognizant of the

potential to detract from the specific area of this political

dispute.

The ACOEM has focused their position on the lack of serious health

effects in regard to mycotoxins, thus advocates focus on mycotoxins.

As most are already aware, Dr. Richie Shoemaker's specialization and

interest has been in the area of biotoxins with a vast amount of

knowledge and experience with mold. He is able to encompass all

effects resulting from the multiple toxigenic organisms within WDBs

and advocates for those dealing with mold exposures. As far as I

know he is not beholden to any individual or entity that might be

vested in aligning themselves with the position of defense. I wish

that could be said for all those in the IAQ industry.

As far as biotoxins, the issue in this battle here is more specific

to mold and mycotoxins. So please understand when those on this list

reference contaminants creating " mold illness " in relationship to

mycotoxins and mold in general. This is done with the intention to

keep politically focused, not to deny the dangers from the other

contaminants involved with WDBs.

B.

--- In , " Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...>

wrote:

>

> LiveSimply,

>

> Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Four quick points

(out

> of a possible many).

>

> 1. Although this is on a government Web site, it is Dr Shoemaker's

> submission to them. Don't confuse it with an offcial government

> position.

>

> 2. It is important to understand his definition of " mold illness. "

> ( " WDB " means " water damaged buildings. " )

>

> I will use the term, " mold illness, " in this summary to save

time:

> what I mean by the term " mold illness " is a chronic, biotoxin

> associated illness acquired following exposure to interior

> environments of WDB with resident toxigenic organisms,

including but

> not limited to fungi, bacteria, mycobacteria and

actinomycetes; as

> well as inflammagens such as beta glucans, VOCs, proteinases,

> hemolysins and particulates made by those organisms, and

others as

> yet identified. Solely focusing on molds as a source of public

health

> concern would be a serious error in assessment. Please look at

WDB as

> the unit of exposure and not just molds!

>

> I would hope that participants of this list be aware of this

> definition and adopt it as " what we mean " when we talk about " mold

> illness " or being ill from mold exposure. As you will see from

> reading it, it is more than just mold. Dr Shoemaker's definition

> lists multiple components of mold plus several others substances.

> Also, mold is not just spores. I emphasize this because the spore

is

> the ONLY component of mold that can be detected with current

routine

> testing methods. (PCR will detect only the DNA, whether in the

spore

> or the bio-mass, but no other components).

>

> 3. Consider also this statement on page 1, just before the

> definition:

>

> My request to NTP is to investigate " mold illness " by

recognizing

> that the illness is multi-factorial and that no single agent,

> especially mycotoxins, is the source of illness symptoms.

>

> 4. Finally, bragging rights to the Indoor Air Quality Association

> (IAQA) of which I am a Vice President. The power point at the end

of

> Dr Shoemaker's submission to NTP is the one he presented at the

IAQA

> conference medical panel October 14. If you didn't already request

> his presentation from me, you can now download it yourself as part

of

> his NTP submission at:

> http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/files/ShoeNTP_12_06_07w_attach.pdf

>

> Carl Grimes

> Healthy Habitats LLC

>

> -----

> > There is a 97 page PDF full of useful information on mold illness,

> > including a long list of papers on water damaged buildings, fungi

and

> > health, descriptions

> > of many tests that can be used to demonstrate or help treat

biotoxin

> > illness. Everyone should download this.

> >

> > http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/files/ShoeNTP_12_06_07w_attach.pdf

> >

> > The other mold-related NTP submissions are very much worth

downloading

> > too. There is too much to describe in detail.

> >

> > The index is at

> >

> > http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=3FE6EBC0-F1F6-975E-

74ECD0F0B83EFF34

> >

> > Right click or control-click on the link, then pick 'Save file

as' or

> > 'Save to Disk'

> >

> > FAIR USE NOTICE:

> >

December 3, 2007

,

I understand your argument but I think continuing the focus only on

mycotoxins will not help to win personal battles. The fight against

ACOEM's position on mycotoxins is important but should not be

confused with how individual battles are fought.

On the other hand, one way to discredit the use of the ACOEM position

is to show that mold cases should not be dismissed and treatment

withheld based solely on the mycotoxin argument when there are many

other components of mold involved.

Even if ACOEM is correct about mycotoxin exposure, there is an

increasing matrix of other components of mold growth that is of major

concern. They should be included as support in our claims of harm.

But if we limit our claims of mold harm to just mycotoxins, then the

defense only needs to attack one position by playing the ACOEM card

and we lose. If they have to also discredit the role of proteins,

proteinases, glucans, enzymes, MVOCs and others then the ACOEM card

is insufficient.

Limiting our efforts only to mycotoxins plays right into the hands of

ACOEM advocates.