See additional articles on Nature's Hazards.

Toxic Molds
by Kristin Marstiller

Why Cover Molds?

Molds can be health issue,a minor one for many people and a serious one for some. Molds can cause moderate to extensive property damage. Molds can grow on most organic substances if moisture and oxygen are present,and they grow by consuming what they land on.High levels of molds indoors can cause illness in susceptible people. When potential health effects are combined with molds’ destructive consumption of property,costs in health and property damage can be considerable. With changing weather patterns,molds may have more prominence in health care issues and property damage, affecting insurance companies and generating lawsuits.

The proposed United States Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act (HR 5040, introduced by Michigan Democrat John Conyers,Jr.), suggests a growing national awareness of ‘toxic mold, although passage of the bill is highly unlikely. Exposure to mold growth in residential, public and commercial buildings is believed to have caused serious medical conditions "bleeding lungs, digestive problems, hair loss, nausea, loss of memory, reduced cognitive skills, and even death. Property damage from mold growth has destroyed millions of dollars in real estate and forced homeowners to the curb."

Story Ideas

1. Have changes in weather patterns in your area caused an increase in humidity or flooding, resulting in an increase in mold problems?

2. Does your state or local government considering legislation or regulations dealing with mold?

3. Are local hospital and clinics trained to recognize mold-related health problems? Would they recognize the symptoms of a toxic mold illness?

4. Has your local health community seen an increase in mold-related asthma or allergic reactions? Have there been any mold-rlated fatalities? Have they shown an actual link between asthma or allergic reactions and exposure to mold?

5. Have local insurance companies had an increase in claims for mold property damage or illnesses caused by molds? Are there payments for property damages believed to be caused by a mold infestation?

6. Has there been an increase in mold-related lawsuits?

7. Have local landlords seen an increase in complaints regarding molds.

8. Do local companies specialize in mold mitigation?What are their credentials and training in this area? Is their "mold business" changing -- increasing or decreasing?

Background and Context

Mold is type of fungus. There are between 50,000 and 250,000 species of fungi,and fewer than 200 species of these have been identified as harmful to humans. Molds can grow practically anywhere -- indoors and outdoors. Outside, molds play a critical role in breaking down leaves, wood, and other plant debris. Indoors, mold is more problematic, and more than 1,000 different types are found inside homes in the U.S. Molds spread and reproduce by making spores. The small and lightweight spores travel through the air. When they land on a damp spot on any organic substance, such as wood, paper, carpet, fabric, and foods, they can grow and consume the substance they land on. Mold is able to stay dormant for a long time in dry conditions, but given moisture and nutrients, they can eventually destroy whatever they grow on.

State of the Science

In an August 13,2002, letter in response to H.R.5040, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) said it is impossible to define or set permissible exposure levels for toxic molds: "'Toxic mold' is a term that has been originated in the media and has no scientific basis ... It is virtually impossible to specify levels at which the many different kinds of mold may be considered ‘toxic.’"

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official a month earlier had testified that although there are many unresolved scientific questions, exposure to high levels of molds indoors is known to cause illness in susceptible people. He recommended that buildings be maintained to prevent water damage and mold growth, and that moldy materials be cleaned up.

The CDC official agreed with AIHA,saying "there are no accepted standards for mold sampling in indoor environments or for analyzing and interpreting the data in terms of human health.It is not known what quantity of mold is acceptable in indoor environments with respect to health ... and because individuals have different sensitivities to molds,setting standards and guidelines for indoor old exposure levels is difficult and may not be practical."

Health Effects

Not all exposures to mold present health problems. Some people are sensitive to molds and may have more severe reactions. Molds can produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, toxins that may cause reactions in humans.The types and severity of symptoms depend on the types of mold present,the extent of exposure, the age of the individual,and their existing sensitivity. Some specific reactions can include:

Allergic reaction -- symptoms such as sneezing,runny nose,red eyes,and skin rash; if an individual is sensitive to mold,these symptoms can exist whether the mold is alive or dead,and the reaction can either be immediate or delayed.

Asthma attacks -- can be trigger in individuals allergic to molds and worsen asthma in non-allergic individuals.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which resembles bacterial pneumonia, is uncommon,but may develop as result of short-or long-term exposure to molds;severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings,for instance in agricultural, wood-working,or malt-working work,and may include fever and shortness of breath.

Irritant effects -- includes irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs.

Opportunistic infections -- individuals with weakened immune systems may be more vulnerable to mold infections;when they inhale the mold spores, mold can start growing in their lungs; can cause common skin diseases such as athlete ’s foot and yeast infections.

Molds can also produce toxic substances called mycotoxins.Exposure pathways for mycotoxins can include inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact.According to CDC,molds can cause illness in situations other than humid indoor environments,such as in hospitals where 9 percent of hospital-acquired infections are caused by fungi. Molds have also been associated with some cancers. The National Toxicology Program has classified two mold-produced toxins as possible human carcinogens,and chronic ingestion contaminated food containing these toxins has been associated with liver and kidney tumors.CDC says it does not know if effects such as pulmonary hemorrhage, memory loss, or lethargy are caused by molds.

Property Damage

Molds can create property damage. The Insurance Information Institute has estimated homeowner losses of nearly $9 billion, with damages particularly high in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, and Texas. The group points to average claim costs of $35,000,with some household claims going beyond $100,000. The town of Fairfield,Ct., recently was awarded $1.2 million in an agreement with its insurance company over water leaks at McKinley Elementary School,which had to be closed and demolished because of mold contamination.The American Insurance Association ’s Web site posting of priorities lists in its fourth bullet under the number one priority: "assist AIA member companies in containing and managing the financial exposure related to mold claims."

Spore Borne Lawsuits

The insurance group says "surge and frequency and costs of these mold claims" can’t be explained just by changes in the weather, population growth, or new strains of toxic molds.The group points also to frequency and extent of litigation and accusations of severe and permanent health damage.The group says there is no peer-reviewed, scientific research to back up those claims.A on the Internet of "lawyer and toxic mold" brings up more than 8,700 hits, many for toxic tort law firms, pointing to things such as "a Mushrooming Problem" and "The Growing Problem of Mold." Some tort lawyers envision (or hope?) mold may be "the next asbestos."

In October 2001,California became the first state to enact legislation, The Toxic Mold Protection Act of 2001.The law establishes a statewide policy regulating mold,leading to possible permissible mold exposure limits, if feasible,and guidelines for identifying and remediating molds,and for disclosure requirements.

Resources:

American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2700 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 250, Fairfax, VA, 22031, Phone: (703) 849-8888; Fax (703) 207-7266; http://www.aiha.org

American Academy of Pediatrics,141 Northwest Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 (847) 434-7877, pubrel@aap.org, http://www.aap.org/policy/re9736.html

California State Department of Health Services, Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control, Environmental Laboratory Branch, 2151 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, Phone: (510) 540-2476, Fax: (510) 540-3022, http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/01/notes/v8n1.pdf

Honorable John Conyers, Jr., 2426 Rayburn Building, Washington, DC, 20515, Phone (202) 225-5126; Fax (202) 225-0072; http://www.house.gov/conyers/mold.htm

Insurance Information Institute, 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038, Phone: (212) 346-5500, http://www.iii.org

The Pennsylvania State University, 208 Mueller Lab, University Park, PA 16802-5301, Phone: (814) 863-0278, Fax: (814) 865-9131, Pennsylvania Housing Research Center, http://www.bio.psu.edu/people/faculty/whittam/research/B0301.pdf

Policyholders of America, Phone: (888) 648-8823, http://www.policyholdersofamerica.org/index2.html

Stephen C.Redd, MD, Chief, Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, Phone (404) 498-1019; Fax: (404) 498-1088; scr1@cdc.gov; http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/stachy.htm

U.S.Environmental Protection Agency,Office of Air and Radiation, Indoor Environments Division (6609J), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460, EPA Publication #402-K-02-003, http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html, http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/moldresources.html

Washington State Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health Assessments, 7171 Cleanwater Lane, Building 2 &3, PO Box 47846, Olympia, WA 98504-7846, Phone: (360) 236-3200, Fax: (877) 485-7316, Harriet Ammann, harriet.ammann@doh.wa.gov