Toxic Mold Exposure on Children

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Toxic Mold Exposure on Children

by PMID: 12806113 [PubMed - in process]

http://www.imakenews.com/pureaircontrols/e_article000237062.cfm?

x=a2Gp7Ld,arRMcb3

The phenomenon of building-related diseases is attracting much

research interest in recent years because of the extent to which it

affects people with compromised immune systems, especially children.

In this study, we reported the neurological findings in children who

attended our Center because of chronic exposure to toxic molds.

Clinical neurological and neurobehavioral questionnaires were

administered with the cooperation of the children's parents. The

children then underwent a series of neurophysiological tests

including electroencephalogram (EEG), brainstem evoked potential

(BAEP), visual evoked potential (VEP), and somatosensory evoked

potential (SSEP). The results showed high levels of abnormalities in

the analysis of the subjective responses derived from the

questionnaires. The EEG examination was abnormal in seven out of ten

of the patients compared to the controls with only one in ten with

episodes of bihemispheric sharp activity.

In all the patients, there was frontotemporal theta wave ativity

that seemed to indicate diffuse changes characteristic of metabolic

encephalopathies. Also, there was highly marked 1 to 3 Hz delta

activity that was asymmetrical in the right hemisphere of the brain

in three out of ten patients. The waveforms of BAEP showed

abnormalities in 90% of the patients with both 15 " and 31 " check

sizes compared to none in the controls. There were significant

delays in waveform V in a majority of the patients representing

dysfunctional cognitive process and conductive hearing loss in both

ears. VEP showed clear abnormalities in four in ten of the patients

with P100 amplitudes and latencies decreased bilaterally. In all the

patients, there was slowing of conduction in the right tibial at an

average of 36.9 ms and there was significant decrease in amplitude

of response at the proximal stimulation site. Sensory latencies

obtained in the median, ulnar, and sural nerves bilaterally showed

abnormalities in five out of ten compared to none in the controls.

The median, ulnar, and sural sensory potentials were abnormal in six

out of ten patients. There was prolongation of the median distal

sensory latencies bilaterally at an average of 4.55 ms on the right

and an average of 6.10 ms on the left as compared to the ulnars of

2.55 ms bilaterally. There was no abnormality in the controls.

These findings represent evidence of diffuse polyneuropathy to which

three patients demonstrated borderline slow motor conduction at an

average of 41.1 ms. Overall, the objective neurophysiological

measurements (EEG, BAEP, VEP, and SSEP) were abnormal, indicating

significant neurological deficits in all the patients. Our findings

revealed the extent to which toxic molds can affect the neurological

and behavioral status of children. Further work should be encouraged

in this regard.

PMID: 12806113 [PubMed - in process]