Email sent to s Hopkins Re: Health Avert and Mold Myths

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Terry,

From what I am able to determine from the s Hopkins website, you are the

Chair of the Lung Committee for the Health Alerts. Your recent health alert

regarding the current state of scientific understanding of mold induced

illnesses is of concern. It is not correct. It down plays the severity of

these

illnesses which will leave the physicians misinformed and will cause people

to be unable to receive proper medical care.

This issue is a highly contentious issue. It spends much time in litigation

as one man's illness is a result of another man's asset. The paper that you

cite for reference by Dr. Wood, Dr. Terr, Dr. Saxon, Dr. Bush and Dr.

Portnoy has publicly been challenged as nothing more than a litigation defense

argument, wrongfully legitimized by private medical associations. The paper

you

reference as the state of the art scientific understanding is the American

Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's (AAAAI) Position Statement on Mold.

It is unfortunate that even with the understanding of conflicts, the AAAAI

allowed this paper to stand as the position representative of thousands of

allergist. As a result, misinformation has been allowed to remain and be spread

even further.

The AAAAI Paper was written about on the front page of the Wall Street

Journal for its conflicts of interest of the authors. The Center for Science

in

the Public Interest has written about the authors' conflicts. One of the

authors, Dr. Portnoy, who is currently President of the American College of

Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, (ACAAI) has spoken out about the " agenda " of

the

paper he is listed as co-authoring.

Over one hundred physicians sent complaints to the AAAAI regarding the

misinformation it was promoting. Dr. Leung of National Jewish Hospitals and

Editor

of the JACI, graciously agreed to run several of the letters of complaint in

the Journal, Sept 2006.

With the flooding of Katrina and other areas around the country; and with so

many schools being in states of disrepair and moldy; with the recent

enlightenment of OSHA's inability to police work environments; accurate

information

is a must when educating physicians about mold induced illnesses. US

citizens depend on our teaching hospitals for our future health.

What can I do to help s Hopkins correct the information from this Health

Alert that is potentially harmful to the lives of many? What can I do to

assist you in providing a more balanced and accurate education for physicians on

the matter?

Sincerely,

Sharon Kramer

EC: Dr. Clifford

Dr. Jay Portnoy

Dr. Platts-Mills

Dr. Leung

Example of errors in the JH teachings:

1. EPA Berkeley Labs on Mold Illness/Asthma:

_http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/EETD-mold-risk.html_

(http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/EETD-mold-risk.html)

" They estimate that number of asthma cases attributable to exposure in home

is 4.6 million, at $3.5 billion annual cost "

s Hopkins:

" 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. "

Attached:

Wall Street Journal, " Court of Opinion, Amid Suits Over Mold, Experts Wear

Two Hats.

CPSI regarding Conflicts of Interest

Dr. Portnoy requesting his name be taken off the document (too late, it was

already published)

Letters of complaint run in the JACI

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