National Center for Healthy Housing releases stunning report

[Guest guest]

National Center for Healthy Housing releases

stunning report

Housing Interventions and Health: A Review of the Evidence

January 2009

http://www.policyholdersofamerica.org/newsletter/jan_2009/19.pdf

The National Center for Healthy Housing just released its report

entitled ¨DHousing Interventions and Health: A Review of the

Evidence¡¬.

Buried within the 92-page report, the agency acknowledges that

mold can cause illness in previously healthy individuals. Perhaps of

even greater import is the agency¡¯s finding that mold is not just an

allergen, it can also have toxic effects. So much for the defense¡¯s

favorite line: ¨DThere¡¯s no such thing as toxic mold.¡¬

The specific language found in the one section of the report reads:

Fungi (Mold) and Excessive Moisture

There is a broad body of epidemiologic and laboratory evidence

linking the presence of mold and moisture to poor health outcomes.

National and international expert panels have reviewed the evidence,

finding consistently that both mold and moisture are associated

with a wide variety of adverse health effects in both the general

population and in specific vulnerable segments of the population

(Institute of Medicine 2000, 2004). From a public health and

prevention perspective these clinical findings point to the

importance

of controlling moisture sources within the home, correcting

water damage as soon as it occurs, fixing leaks promptly, and

safely cleaning or removing mold-contaminated materials promptly.

In indoor environments, mold originates from two sources, including

mold infiltrating from outdoors (e.g., through open windows), and

mold colonization on the interior of the home. Molds obtain nutrients

and moisture sufficient for growth from water-affected building

materials

such as wallboard and insulation materials, as well as carpets,

furniture, and bedding (Institute of Medicine 2004; Woodcock

et al. 2006). The features of a home that increase moisture levels

and fungal growth include condensation on cool surfaces, water

intrusion from outside, and interior leaks. Mold exposure occurs

primarily as spores become aerosolized upon disturbance of a

reservoir.

Recent research has shown that fungal fragments also contribute

to the respirable fraction of inhaled particles (Gorny et al.

2002; Green et al. 2005; Green et al. 2006).

The fraction of current asthma cases attributable to dampness and

mold exposure in housing is estimated to be 21% (Mudarri and Fisk

2007). Although the precise causal pathway between mold exposure,

allergic sensitization or irritant airway response and asthma

development remains undetermined, exposure to mold is associated

with the exacerbation of asthma related symptoms in sensitized

individuals (Institute of Medicine 2000, 2004). The IOM (2004)

report did not find sufficient evidence of a causal relationship with

any health outcome, and concluded there was insufficient evidence

to determine an association with many health

effects, including asthma development, dyspnea,

airflow obstruction (in otherwise healthy persons),

mucous membrane irritation syndrome,

and pulmonary hemorrhage in infants. These

results are not applicable to immunocompromised

persons, who are at increased risk

for fungal colonization or opportunistic infections.

Molds not only have allergenic effects, but can

also have toxic or irritant effects. Evidence from

occupational studies suggests that exposure to

mycotoxins can result in mucus membrane irritation,

skin rashes, dizziness, nausea and immunosuppression

(Burge and Ammann 1999). Fungi

also produce irritants such as microbial volatile

organic compounds (MVOCs) and (1¡ú3)s-Dglucans

that may be responsible for some ¨Dsick

building¡¬ symptoms (Douwes 2005; Walinder et

al. 2005).

CLICK HERE for the full report.