Respiratory problems linked to damp and mould

WASHINGTON - Mould and dampness can cause coughing and wheezing, but there is no evidence linking so-called toxic mould to cancer, fatigue or neurological problems, United States health specialists say.

People with asthma are the most susceptible to mould, but even completely healthy people may develop mild respiratory symptoms if they are exposed, the Institute of Medicine panel found.

More research is needed to find out just how mould might affect people, they said.

In the meantime, homeowners, builders, architects and developers should focus on designing buildings that stay as dry as possible.

"If you have visible mould it should be cleaned up or removed from the building," said panel member William Fisk of the Indoor Environment Department at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California.

The institute was asked to look into the matter by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Its panel, led by Noreen Clark from the University of Michigan, included toxicologists, epidemiologists and paediatricians.

"The committee found sufficient evidence of an association between exposure to damp indoor environments and ... upper respiratory tract (nasal and throat) symptoms, cough, wheeze, and asthma symptoms in sensitised asthmatic persons," the report said.

Studies also show mould can cause an immune condition called hypersensitivity pneumonitis in susceptible people.

Some limited evidence suggested dampness could cause shortness of breath and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children, and the development of asthma in susceptible people, the report said.

This could be because of mould, fungi, bacteria, dust mites or even cockroaches.

But there was no hard evidence to show dampness or mould could cause other ills including a serious condition called acute idiopathic pulmonary haemorrhage in infants.

News reports have said that "toxic mould" could cause serious illnesses including debilitating fatigue, neuropsychiatric disorders, cancer and reproductive problems.

Noreen Clark said the panel did not address the issue of whether "toxic mould" exists but suggested such issues could be better communicated to the general public.

"There are certain moulds that can produce toxic agents under certain conditions at a certain point of their life cycle that no doubt occurs at some point in buildings," said Mr Fisk.

No one knows if these toxins can affect people.

Reports have focused on families who complained of serious problems that stopped days after they left a mouldy house, only to return when they moved back in.

Noreen Clark said such reports were useless to a scientific panel.

"One can't use anecdotal data or individual cases to determine the extent to which a problem exists or doesn't exist for a population of people."


MOULD'S EFFECT

Exposure to mould causes:

* Upper respiratory tract (nasal and throat) problems.

* Cough, wheeze, and asthma symptoms.

* source: Institute of Medicine


- REUTERS