s Hopkins U, Mold Myths, Health Alert aka Litigation Defense Propaganda

[Guest guest]

And we wonder WHY people are not able to receive medical care for these

serious illnesses.

_http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/lung_disorders/2012-1.html_

(http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/lung_disorders/2012-1.html)

Lung Disorders Special Report

9 Common Mold Myths

Media reports have linked indoor mold exposure to everything from asthma to

headaches. But what’s the real scientific evidence that exposure to mold in

your home actually can cause physical symptoms? A recent review of scientific

literature about mold-related diseases found that, while mold can cause

certain health problems, many common claims just don’t hold up under

scrutiny.

Five allergists, including A. Wood, M.D., of the s Hopkins

University School of Medicine, set out to define what can and can’t be proved

about

mold exposure. Here’s what they found in their review:

Toxic mold. Popular reports about the health effects of mold are likely to

include the term “toxic mold.†But that term can be misleading, the experts

say. They point out that only certain mold spores produce toxins, and only

under certain circumstances. Just because a particular mold can produce toxins

doesn’t mean it will. Even if the mold is producing toxins, a person must

breathe in a sufficient dose to be affected. It is highly unlikely that you

could inhale enough mold in your home or office to receive a toxic dose.

Mold and Asthma. While allergic responses to inhaling mold are a recognized

factor in lower airway disease such as asthma, studies show that outdoor mold

is more likely to cause problems for asthmatics than mold found indoors. A

better assessment of the effects of indoor mold on people with asthma would

require studies that follow people over a long period and take into account

factors that could affect the results, such as humidity and other airborne

allergens and irritants.

Mold and Allergies. The link between mold and allergies is even weaker, the

experts say. Current research doesn’t provide a persuasive case that exposure

to mold in the outdoor air plays a role in allergies, and studies linking

indoor molds to upper airway allergy are even less compelling.

Mold and Skin Rashes. Exposure to molds doesn’t contribute to atopic

dermatitis, or rashes.

Mold and Sinusitis. There’s no clear-cut evidence that sensitivity to mold

causes chronic sinusitis, nor are there conclusive data to show that

mold-killing antifungal drugs such as amphotericin, applied to the nasal

passages, are

an effective treatment for sinusitis.

Mold and Infection. Superficial fungal infections, such as toenail fungus or

jock itch, generally result from fungi that develop inside the warm, moist

environments found in shoes or tight garments. Thrush can develop inside the

mouths of people with weakened immune systems, such as those who have AIDS or

cancer. These infections generally are not the result of exposure to mold in

the home or workplace.

Mold and Irritation. Mold found indoors, even inside damp buildings, is not

likely to cause irritation of the eyes or throat -- and if it does, the

effects are short-lived. Symptoms or signs persisting weeks after exposure and

those accompanied by complaints related to the nervous system, brain, or whole

body (such as those attributed to chronic fatigue) can’t be pinned on the

irritant effects of mold exposure.

Mold and Immune System Damage. There is no credible evidence to suggest that

environmental exposure to mold damages the immune system. The experts warn

against immune-based tests given to look for intolerance to mold and other

substances in the environment—so-called multiple chemical sensitivity. The

authors specifically advise against using blood tests that look for a wide

range

of non-specific changes in the immune system. They also discourage using

tests of autoantibodies, which are abnormal antibodies that the body sometimes

produces in reaction against its own tissues. These tests are expensive and do

not provide useful information that will help to diagnose or manage diseases

related to mold, they say.

Mold and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. This uncommon inflammation of the

lungs, an example of which is Farmer’s Lung, is caused by exposure to an

allergen, usually organic dust that may come from animal dander, molds, or

plants. A

person generally develops this condition only after high-dose or prolonged

exposure, or both, to mold or other allergens.

Much of the hoopla over mold exposure came in the wake of Hurricane Katrina,

the experts note in their report, which appeared in the Journal of Allergy

and Clinical Immunology. The flood-ravaged areas of the Gulf Coast, sadly,

have provided a natural laboratory, which enables medical researchers to

address

lingering questions about the health effects of mold.

Posted in _Lung Disorders_

(http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/lung_disorders/) on May 22,

2008

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