Re: [occ-env-med-l] Symposium Announcement -- Mold: State of the Medical and Environmental Science (fwd)

[Guest guest]

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/101/106072.htm

I hope Dr. Fink keeps an open mind when he presents.

Allergy Major Cause of 'Toxic Mold Syndrome'

But Many Cases of Mold-Linked Illness Not Allergy By DeNoon

WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

on Thursday, February 24, 2005

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Feb. 24, 2005 -- Mold allergies -- not mold poisoning -- cause most cases of

" toxic mold syndrometoxic mold syndrome, " new study explains.

But the study also shows that many cases of mold-linked illness can't be

explained by allergic reactions. The report, by allergists A. Edmondson,

DO, Jordan N. Fink, MD, and colleagues at Medical College of Wisconsin, appears

in the February issue of ls of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

The researchers examined 36 children and 29 adults thought to have toxic mold

syndrome. About half turned out to be allergic to molds.

" Our patients assumed that they were experiencing toxic mold syndrome when, in

fact, most were experiencing [allergic] reactions to various antigens in their

environment, " Edmondson and colleagues write.

That still left a sizeable number of patients whose illness could not be

explained by allergy.

" Twenty-five percent of the patients had symptoms not compatible with

[allergy], " Edmondson and colleagues write. " [Mold]-mediated mechanisms may

account for these symptoms. …The [cause] of these symptoms … remains unclear and

warrants further investigation. "

Toxic Mold Syndrome Remains Controversial

The patients, ranging in age from 1.5 to 52, had all kinds of symptoms. Most

had a runny nose and a cough. Others had headaches, breathing problems

(including shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness), itchy eyes, and

nervous system problems (including dizziness, anxiety, weakness, restless legs,

memory loss, and shaking), intestinal problems (including nausea, vomiting, and

gut pain), nosebleed, and urinary problems.

Accompanying the study is an editorial by mold expert W. Elliott Horner, PhD,

of Air Quality Sciences, Inc., in Atlanta. Horner notes that toxic mold syndrome

is extremely controversial. However, he also points to a recent report by the

prestigious Institute of Medicine that strongly supports the idea that damp,

moldy buildings can harm people's health.

" Perhaps part of the controversy regarding the health effects of indoor mold

could be [done away with] if the ill-defined phrase toxic mold syndrome> were

replaced by damp building effect, which refers to a well-documented effect but

avoids any claim of [cause], " Horner writes.

Horner points out there is currently no accurate way to measure mold toxins in

damp buildings. Without such a tool, it is impossible to test whether toxic mold

is, in fact, causing illness. Until scientists develop such tests, he says,

people should stop arguing and start collecting more data. In the meantime, he

urges both doctors and patients to keep an open mind about the possible toxic

effects of molds.

" Although certainly not proven, the suspect with the most fingerprints at the

scene seems to be mold components shed from fungal colonized construction and

finishing materials and furnishings, " he writes. " It is time now for data rather

than diatribe. "

---------------------------------

SOURCES: Edmondson, D.A. ls of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, February

2005; vol 94: pp 234-239. Horner, W.E. ls of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology,

February 2005; vol 94: pp 213-215.

Angel!! <jap2bemc@...> wrote:

UCLA's and UC Irvine's Southern California Education and Research Center

Presents:

Mold: State of the Medical and Environmental Science

The purpose of this 3-day symposium is to assist medical and environmental

science professionals to understand the facts and controversies surrounding

mold growth and remediation. Topics will include the nature and growth of

mold, mold sampling and interpretation of results, health effects, building

dynamics and building failure, and remediation. The afternoon of Day 3 will

include perspectives of mold litigation from the perspective of a

plantiff's attorney, defendant's attorney, judge and a mock trial.

Tuesday -Thursday, December 5-7, 2006 - 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Course location - UC Irvine, Center for Occupational and Environmental

Medicine

Registration Fee - $995 Earlybird (before 11/5/06) $750

Accreditation: Nurses - 20.0 BRN Contact Hours

IH - 3.0 CM Points, ABIH

Safety - BCSP 2.0 COC Points

Faculty Committee

Dean Baker, MD, Department of Medicine, UC Irvine; Director, Center for

Occupational and Environmental Health, UCI; Deputy Director, SCERC

Harriett Burge, PhD, Environmental Microbiology Laboratory

Stuart Salot, PhD, CIH, Sr. Industrial Hygienist, CTL Environmental Serv.

M Seltzer, MD, Co-Director, Pediatric Environmental Health Safety Unit

(PEHSU), U.S. EPA Region IX; Professor of Medicine, UC Irvine School of

Medicine, Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine

You can access a full description of the course on-line at

http://www.ph.ucla.edu/erc/mold-symposium-12-06.htm

Cass Ben-Levi

Director of Continuing Education/Outreach

Southern California Education and Research Ctr.

650 Young Dr. South, 56-071 CHS, UCLA

Box 951772

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772

310 206-2304

304

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