Another study (from 2003) that disputes the ACOEM position

[Guest guest]

Explosion of Mold Cases in Homes, Workplaces and in Occupational Medical

PracticesAllan D. Lieberman, M.D.

 In practices all over the country, there has been an explosion of patients

seeking help from alleged exposure

to molds both in their homes and workplaces. The severity of their symptoms and

the multi-system spectrum

of their complaints demands that physicians seeing these patients become more

knowledgeable about the

serious health effects of mold exposure.

 

Yet, we are told in a position paper

Medicine and peer reviewed by the Council on Scientific Affairs, that “mold

growth indoors is undesirable

but does not warrant the fear that is too often associated with it. A careful

review of the science suggests that

irrational fear of indoor mold threatens responsible public policy more than

indoor mold threatens public

health.”

 On what clinical evidence is this opinion based? Objective analysis requires

you to believe in what you see

and not see what you believe.

 

The case report is the gold standard in identifying the adverse effects of

environmental exposures and it is the

obligation of physicians to report these cases. This presentation will do just

that, summarizing the findings in

48 cases of mold exposure.

 

The case reports presented derive from workers in a bank, industrial plants,

teachers in schools, and people in

their homes. All were knowingly exposed to molds that were professionally

evaluated, identified, and

quantified. Most exposures were long-term lasting weeks to months. Moisture was

the universal cause

precipitating the growth of the indoor mold. The mold species identified varied

but the most common were:

 

Aspergillus

Penicillium

Cladosporium

Stachybotrys

 Multiple systems were affected confirming the multi-system injury that mold

exposure can produce.

The spectrum of signs and symptoms in descending order of frequency included:

 Muscle and/or joint pain 71%

Fatigue/weakness 70%

Neurocognitive dysfunction 67%

Sinusitis 65%

Headache 65%

Gastrointestinal problems 58%

Shortness of breath 54%

Anxiety/depression/irritability 54%

Vision problems 42%

Chest tightness 42%

Insomnia 40%

Dizziness 38%

Numbness and tingling 35%

Laryngitis/hoarseness 35%

Nausea 33%

Rashes 27%

Tremors 25%

Heart palpitations 21%Bronchitis/pneumonia 21%

Nose bleeds 13%

Nasal Septal Perforation 2%

 Mold and mycotoxin antibody titers:23 out of 29 or 80% of patients tested

showed positive antibodies to molds and mycotoxins.

Trichothecene 38%

Aspergillus 34%

Cladosporium 31%

Penicillium 28%

Stachybotrys 28%

 Conclusions:The findings of 48 cases of serious health effects from mold

exposure suggests that mold is a significant

cause of illness, impairment and disability. 

References:

1. Hardin, B.D., Kelman, B.J., Saxon, A., ACOEM’s evidence based statement on

the

Adverse Health Effects Associated With Molds In The Indoor Environment. ACOEM’s

report. Oct/Nov/Dec 2002.

2. Brunekreff, B., 1992. Damp Housing And Adult Respiratory Symptoms. Allergy

47:498-

502.

3. Brunkreff, B., D.W. Dockery, F.E. Speizer, J.H. Ware, J.D. Spengler, and B.G.

Ferris.

1989. Home Dampness And Respiratory Morbidity In Children. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.

140:

1363-1367.

4. Dales, R.E., H. Zwanenburg, R. Burnett, and C.A. lin. 1991. Respiratory

Health

Effects Of Home Dampness And Molds Among Canadian Children. Am. J. Epidemiol.

134:196-203..

5. Packer, C.N., -Brown, and S.E. Fowle. 1994. Damp Housing And Adult

Health:

Results From A Lifestyle Study In Worcester, England. J. Epidemiol. Community

Health

48:555-559.

6. Firhonen, I., A. Nevalainen, T.. Husman, and J. Pekkanen. 1996. Home

Dampness, Molds

And Their Influence On Respiratory Infections And Symptoms In Adults In Finland.

Eur.

Respir.. J. 9:2618-2622.

7. Platt, S.D., C.J. , S.M. Hunt, and C.W. . 1989. Damp Housing, Mold

Growth,

And Symptomatic Health State. Br. Med. J. 298:1673-1678.

8. Engelhart, S. et al, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, August 2002, P.

3886-3890.

9. Bornchag, CG. et al. Indoor Air, 2001 June 1 (2): 71.

10. Beebe, Glenn. Toxic Carpet Three. 1971.

11. Andreissen, J.W., B. Brunekreff, and W. Roemer. 1998. Home Dampness And

RespiratoryHealth Status In European Children. Clin. Exp. Allergy 28:1991-1200.

 

http://www.aehf.com/articles/symposia%20PDF/2003.pdf

1 published by the American College of Occupational and Environmental2

[Guest guest]

Thanks Brain

--- In , <brianc8452@...>

wrote:

>

> Explosion of Mold Cases in Homes, Workplaces and in Occupational

Medical PracticesAllan D. Lieberman, M.D.

>  In practices all over the country, there has been an explosion of

patients seeking help from alleged exposure

> to molds both in their homes and workplaces. The severity of their

symptoms and the multi-system spectrum

> of their complaints demands that physicians seeing these patients

become more knowledgeable about the

> serious health effects of mold exposure.