Goofy Dan Fisher from Forbes Mag Strikes Again.

[Guest guest]

_http://blogs.forbes.com/danielfisher/2011/02/26/mold-helps-reduce-asthma-but-wi\

ll-lawyers-notice/_

(http://blogs.forbes.com/danielfisher/2011/02/26/mold-helps-reduce-asthma-but-wi\

ll-lawyers-notice/)

Mold Helps Reduce Asthma, But Will Lawyers Notice?

This is what the actual conclusion of the paper Fisher cites to

purportedly support his " scientific " position says:

" Conclusions Children living on farms were exposed to a wider range of

microbes than were children in the reference group, and this exposure explains

a substantial fraction of the inverse relation between asthma and growing

up on a farm. "

He is trying to argue that mold in urban dwellings is good for the

children. But if that is the case, then why are these children who are

breathing

lots of mold in substandard housing not has healthy as the farm children.?

The NEJM article acknowledges children in urban settings have more asthma.

It also states, " At first glance, these findings may challenge previous

observations suggesting that molds may account for the increased risk of

asthma ascribed to dampness. However, molds are very heterogeneous, and

different genera or species within very large taxa, such as penicillium species,

may exert diverse effects. "

According to the writings of Fisher, one would conclude that we should all

hose down our houses so we and our children can breath lots more mold.

" This might be inconvenient for plaintiff lawyers who have made a

lucrative practice of suing urban landlords for lung diseases they blame on

mold

and bacteria, which they in turn blame on shoddy maintenance

practices....Mold suits have been especially effective in inner-city areas

where it’s easy

to find a jury willing to blame the landlord for a child’s illness. "

My conclusion: Subscriptions must be down at Forbes Magazine OR Dan has a

copy of ACOEM's new mold guidelines, pre publication, and is doing a

little pre-sale work.

Sharon Kramer