Re: Lists of Exposure Standards

[Guest guest]

I'm curious.  If Bob s was able to find all of this information about mold

exposure standards, then why does everyone in the U.S. say there are no

standards?

________________________________

From: tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...>

Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 9:02:36 AM

Subject: [] Lists of Exposure Standards

 

<brianc8452 (DOT) com>

brianc8452

: The system won't allow me to send this message. I don't know why. Can you

please post this on Sickbuildings.

The information I posted is from Bob s's book titled " Worldwide Exposure

Standards for Mold and Bacteria. " The book covers the following items.

Lists of Exposure Standards

- Exposure Standards from over 12 different countries and governmental bodies

- Exposure Standards from over 6 different trade organizations

Types of Exposure Standards

- Viable/Culturable Exposure Standards

- Total Spore Exposure Standards

Comparison of Exposure Standards

- Typical/Normal Level Standards

- Action Level Standards

- Ceiling Level (Evacuation) Standards

- Clearance Level Standards

I like the readers' comments about the book, including this one:

[Guest guest]

, good question. But first tell me what you mean by

" standard. "

The " standards " in Bob's book are a mix of all kinds of guidelines,

ideas, organizational " standards, " government recommendations

(standards?), a few regulations, standards of practice, standards

of care, standards of best practice, and on and on. Yes, there are

many similarities, but no consensus on what they should be or

what they mean.

Remember the old childhood fairy tale where a beloved tree was

tagged by a yellow ribbon identifying it to be cut down? The

remedy was to tie ribbons on most of the trees, thereby

preventing the idenfitication of the one tree. Unfortunately, that is

similar to what the plethora of world-wide standards does.

Even if someone were to agree on specific numbers, these would

be dependant on each particular method of testing. Then, which

of the half dozen methods of testing will be considered? By which

of the half dozen or so methods of analysis? And how is that to

be interpreted in an intensive care unit vs in an office vs in a

house with an week-old infant or your 90 year old grandma vs a

home with a recent organ transplant patient?

None of this measures exposure. And it is exposure which

determines what a person is reacting to. Which symptoms

manifest and how strongly they react depends on the

characteristics of their susceptibility.

To further increase the complexity, the most recent studies on

allergy (forget all the non-allergic reactions for a moment) are

finding that allergies also depend on what part of the world you

are in. Move from one area to another and what you were

previously not allergic to now may be your most troublesome

allergy. This causes problems for the belief that we are either

allergic or not allergic. How does changing the country where you

live alter your allergy profile? One study identified combinations of

allergen sources, including some foods indigenous only to that

area and only if one of the several types of dust mites are

present. Without both the individual is reactive to neither. How do

we create a standard for that?

, mold is not like strep throat where a simple culture

identifies the specific organism causing a specific illness. Mold is

a whole kingdom of organisms with an extremely broad range of

effects among a nearly infinite group of people. Some molds are

beneficial, edible, and even medical life savers.

You seem to be looking for specifics and absolutes. I understand

the desire and the need, believe me. But they are not yet possible

for these and other reasons. Which has been discussed

extensively here before. In addition to continuing to diligently

searching for answers and remedies we must also come to terms

with what we don't know and what we can't fix. Not knowing the

difference is not only frustrating but often depressing. As you and

many on this group know all too well. But what is even worse is

false hope based on incomplete or wrong information.

I hope you are interpreting this and my other posts as attempts to

clarify, not arguments against you personally.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

>

> I'm curious. If Bob s was able to find all of this information about

mold exposure standards, then why

> does everyone in the U.S. say there are no standards?

>

> ________________________________

> From: tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...>

> groups (DOT) com

> Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 9:02:36 AM

> Subject: [] Lists of Exposure Standards

>

>

> <brianc8452 (DOT) com>

> brianc8452

>

> : The system won't allow me to send this message. I don't know why. Can

you please post this on

> Sickbuildings.

>

> The information I posted is from Bob s's book titled " Worldwide Exposure

Standards for Mold and

> Bacteria. " The book covers the following items.

>

> Lists of Exposure Standards

> - Exposure Standards from over 12 different countries and governmental bodies

> - Exposure Standards from over 6 different trade organizations

>

> Types of Exposure Standards

> - Viable/Culturable Exposure Standards

> - Total Spore Exposure Standards

>

> Comparison of Exposure Standards

> - Typical/Normal Level Standards

> - Action Level Standards

> - Ceiling Level (Evacuation) Standards

> - Clearance Level Standards

>

> I like the readers' comments about the book, including this one:

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Carl. I asked a question, and you provided a thoughtful response.

Nothing personal about it. It's good to share thoughts and ideas.

________________________________

From: Carl E. Grimes <grimes@...>

Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 9:13:05 PM

Subject: Re: [] Lists of Exposure Standards

, good question. But first tell me what you mean by

" standard. "

The " standards " in Bob's book are a mix of all kinds of guidelines,

ideas, organizational " standards, " government recommendations

(standards?) , a few regulations, standards of practice, standards

of care, standards of best practice, and on and on. Yes, there are

many similarities, but no consensus on what they should be or

what they mean.