Protection measures studied
Protection measures studied
Labor, industry, and health interests are slowly working toward consensus on how to minimize exposure when mold is suspected or confirmed, Latko says. Determining when protective equipment is needed is one issue, she says; is the cutoff point when mold is visible, when it’s microscopic, when it’s sealed behind walls, or when its presence is just strongly suspected?
Determining if a building has mold can be as simple as walking around and looking. Chroni-cally moist areas, and musty or moldy odors are strong signs that mold is present; lots of mold is easily visible to the naked eye, although mold is notorious for spreading unchecked behind walls and underneath wallpapers.
Stachybotrys chartarum, the "black mold" often referred to in reports on illness-inducing mold exposures, is a greenish-black mold that grows on materials with high cellulose content, like drywall, wood and paper, and dropped ceiling tiles. Stachybotrys produces mycotoxins under certain environmental conditions; however, not all black molds are Stachybotrys, and not all Stachybotrys species produce mycotoxins, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. When alive, Stachybotrys is slimy and does not release many spores or mycotoxins. Exposure risk is low unless it dries up; then spores and mycotoxins, if present, are released into the air. There is no test that can determine if a person has been exposed to Stachybotrys.
Once cleanup of confirmed mold (or suspected mold-conducive areas) is complete, occupational health staff should monitor the health and symptoms of employees. If symptoms persist after cleanup, they may not have been caused by mold, or the cleanup was not successful.
The AIHA report on mold ("The Facts About Mold," available on-line at www.aiha.org/ GovernmentAffairs-PR/html/oomold.htm), point out that different mold species may be more or less hazardous than others, and risks from exposure to a particular mold species may vary depending on a number of factors, making it difficult to establish basic exposure standards for molds and related contaminants. The mere presence of mold, for example, may not be considered a health issue unless people are getting sick.
On the other hand, Latko explains, a University of Connecticut study report notes, "Unlike allergens, mycotoxins in sufficient concentration can elicit responses in virtually everyone with whom they come into
contact."1
Reference
1. Storey E, et al. Guidance for Clinicians on the Recognition and Management of Health Effects Related to Mold Exposure and Moisture Indoors. September 2004; University of Connecticut Health Center. Available at http://oehc.uchc.edu/clinser/ MOLD%20GUIDE.pdf.
[For more information, contact:
- Mary Ann Latko, CIH, CSP, QEP, Director, Scientific and Technical Initiatives Team, American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2700 Prosperity Ave., Suite 250, Fairfax, VA 22030. E-mail: mlatko@aiha. org.]
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