Misconceptions about mold exposure abound ( Hopkins joins the BS)

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Misconceptions about mold exposure abound

Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:40 AM ET

By Clementine Wallace

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Illnesses resulting from

mold-exposure are common and important, but a lot of

what's currently being blamed on mold exposure is not

supported by good medical evidence, researchers

assert.

" There are misconceptions in the public concerning the

dangers associated with mold exposure -- unproven

assertions that often end up soliciting litigations, "

Dr. Wood, from s Hopkins University School

of Medicine in Baltimore, told Reuters Health.

Wood and his colleagues have authored an article on

the medical effects of mold exposure, published in the

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The

researchers compiled key references to " provide a

state-of-the-art review " of the role played by mold

exposure in human diseases such as asthma, allergic

rhinitis, and sinusitis. It also reviews the data on

other illnesses purported to be related to mold.

" Our goal is to give doctors an up-to-date statement

about what we really know about mold exposure, that

they can use to answer their patients' questions, "

Wood said.

Fungi can cause illnesses through three known

mechanisms: by generating a harmful immune reaction in

the host (allergies for example); by direct infection;

and by releasing toxic or irritating byproducts.

For each one of these categories, there is scientific

evidence to establish mold as a genuine cause of

illness, " but hypothesized associations have also been

made, especially concerning indoor molds, " Wood

explained.

For example, the team notes in the article, studies

concerning the contribution of indoor mold to upper

airway allergies are not compelling.

Regarding the potential toxic effects of mold, they

say that while ingesting large quantities of mold from

contaminated or spoiled food can lead to serious

illnesses, there is no scientific evidence proving

that inhaling toxins from molds has harmful effects on

health.

Concerns have also been raised as to whether mold

exposure could induce disorders of immune regulation.

However, the authors write, " The published literature

in this regard is of particularly poor quality and

should not be relied on as scientifically valid. "

Wood's group concludes with advice on assessing

patients with suspected mold-related allergies --

using blood tests to measure antibodies to mold

allergens, for example -- and they suggest that

sampling air for mold spores can be useful in some

cases.

SOURCE: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology,

February 2006.

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