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This report Damp Indoor Spaces and Health by the Institute of Medicine examines the health impact of exposures resulting from damp indoor environments and offers recommendations for public health interventions. The comprehensive literature review finds sufficient evidence of an association between damp indoor environments and some upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, wheeze, and asthma symptoms in sensitized persons. The book not only examines the relationship between damp or moldy indoor environments and adverse health outcomes, but discusses how and where buildings get wet, how dampness influences microbial growth and chemical emissions, the ways to prevent and remediate dampness, and elements of a public health response.
The press release from the National Academy of Sciences Institute of
Medicine about the report, "Damp Indoor Spaces and Health" can be viewedat http://www.nationalacademies.org/
The entire report can be viewed online at
http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11011.html?onpi_newsdoc05252004
or at
http://www.iom.edu/report.asp?id=20223
The NY Times website posted what is likely the full AP story (see below):
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/health/AP-Mold-and-Health.html?ex=1086512438&ei=1&en=eaf12ad485e8f97d
(IOM/NAS) Panel: Mold Blamed for Breathing Problems
May 25, 2004
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 2:43 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Increased effort is needed to reduce
mold-producing moisture in buildings that has been blamed
for respiratory problems, including some asthma, a
scientific panel said Tuesday.
While the study by the Institute of Medicine did not blame
mold for other, often major illnesses that some have sought
to associate with it, the report couldn't rule out those
dangers either.
``In short, excessive building dampness is not your friend.
It's associated with a lot of things that could give rise
to problems,'' said Noreen Clark, dean of the School of
Public Health at the University of Michigan.
``Even though the available evidence does not link mold or
other factors associated with building moisture to all the
serious health problems that some attribute to them,
excessive indoor dampness is a widespread problem that
warrants action at the local, state and national levels,''
she said.
Clark headed the panel that studied the health effects of
mold, which has drawn increased attention in recent years
with the shutdown of a major hotel, delayed openings of
schools in several states and a raft of lawsuits.
The Institute, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences,
urged the mold problem be corrected through a range of
steps, including changes in how buildings are designed,
constructed and maintained.
``An exhaustive review of the scientific literature made it
clear to us that it can be very hard to tease apart the
health effects of exposure to mold from all the other
factors that may be influencing health in the typical
indoor environment,'' said Clark.
``That said, we were able to find sufficient evidence that
certain respiratory problems, including symptoms in
asthmatics who are sensitive to mold, are associated with
exposure to mold and damp conditions,'' she concluded.
Excessive dampness influences whether mold, as well as
bacteria, dust mites and other such agents, are present and
thrive indoors, the committee noted. In addition, the
wetness may cause chemicals and particles to be released
from building materials.
A rare ailment known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis also
was associated with indoor mold exposure in susceptible
people.
But the committee said it was unable to find evidence that
mold is associated with fatigue, neuropsychiatric disorders
or other health problems that some people have attributed
to fungal infestations of buildings.
The little evidence that is available does not support an
association, the committee said, but it added that because
there are so few studies it cannot rule out a connection.
Molds that are capable of producing toxins do grow indoors,
and toxic and inflammatory effects also can be caused by
bacteria that flourish in damp conditions, the report
noted.
The committee said information exists on how to control
dampness but architects, engineers, building contractors,
facility managers and maintenance staff do not always apply
this knowledge.
The members called for development of guidelines for
preventing indoor dampness and said they should be promoted
nationally. In addition, building codes and regulations
should be reviewed and modified as necessary to reduce
moisture problems, the committee said.
Lawsuits claiming illnesses from mold in buildings that
were not properly built or cleaned up have multiplied in
recent years.
Changes in building codes in the 1970s to make homes more
energy efficient and airtight had the effect of allowing
less ventilation through a house that would dry out a wet
wall or floor, which in turn may have led to more mold
damage claims, according to attorneys involved in some
cases.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private institution
chartered by Congress to advise the government on
scientific matters. The study was funded by the federal
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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