Texas Medical Association Concludes Alleged Adverse Health Effects of Black Mold are Unproven
October, 2002
by Melinda S. Kollross and Edward J. Ozog
In response to increased public concern about the potential adverse health effects of Stachybotrys chartarum (commonly known as “black mold”) on humans, especially in connection with water-damaged buildings, the Texas Medical Association’s (“TMA”) Council on Scientific Affairs (“CSA”) was asked to update the “state of the medical science” on this topic. After conducting a search of medical and scientific literature, contacting a number of experts/specialists and reviewing available data, the CSA has concluded that “public concern for adverse health effects from inhalation of Stachybotrys spores in water-damages buildings is generally not supported by published reports in medical literature” and approved a policy paper on black mold and human illness (CSA Report 1-1-02)1 which is to be forwarded to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Texas Department of Health and the Texas Insurance Department.
The following excerpts from the CSA’s September 2002 report address the CSA’s conclusions and recommendations regarding mold and human illness. The full text of the CSA’s report may be downloaded from the home page of the TMA’s web site (www.texmed.org).
CSA Conclusions
Adverse health effects from inhalation of Stachybotrys spores in water-damaged buildings is not supported by available peer-reviewed reports in medical literature.
The probability or possibility of causation or exacerbation of a medical condition due to exposure to mold in indoor environments currently exists only for the following:
- Traditional Type I immune reactions (allergies, with correlation of symptoms with exposure and in vitro demonstration of IgE antibodies by allergy skin tests or RAST test for specific IgE antibodies in blood samples); and
- Rare Type III immune reactions (hypersensitivity pneumonitis), pulmonary hemorrhage in infants associated with mycotoxins.
Further, for Stachybotrys or other molds to be implicated in other disease models, the following must be present:
- Peer-reviewed medical literature should show clearly that such mold or mold by-product has produced clinical manifestations similar to those displayed by the patient;
- Evidence of personal causation of the type described by references 17 and 18 must exist
CSA Recommendations
The Council on Scientific Affairs recommends that the TMA:
- support the need for continued scientific research regarding the impact of molds on human health, especially the effects of mycotoxins;
- educate TMA membership regarding this issue, including the use of Koch’s Postulates as the means to validate illness caused by Stachybotrys, through information in TMA publications and on the TMA web site;
- communicate the information in this paper to the appropriate state governmental agencies, such as the Texas Attorney General, Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of Insurance, and others;
- support that remediation of water damage in homes and other buildings should generally be based on non-clinical factors, unless clear medical evidence, as described in this paper, exists to demonstrate the role of Stachybotrys in a particular case of illness; and
- provide educational information on this topic on the TMA web site for interested clinical personnel as well as the general public.
Learning Point:
The CSA’s findings will undoubtedly provide ammunition in the fight against the burgeoning number of lawsuits and insurance claims alleging personal injuries resulting from exposure to black mold in homes and other buildings. However, we expect those seeking recovery for such injuries will attempt to downplay the significance of the CSA’s findings by focusing on the Council’s recognition that more scientific research is needed regarding the impact of molds on human health. Also, the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) has previously issued a report entitled “State of the Science on Molds and Human Health” noting that “molds can cause illness when people are exposed to extensive mold growth indoors” and that “routine measures should be taken to prevent mold growth indoors because some people are or may become allergic to it. (A complete copy of the CDC report is available at www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/images/moldsci.pdf)®
1. Report of Council presented by
O.Edwin McCluskey, M.D., Chair.
Back to CM Report Special Update on Mold (2002) 2002 Fall Table of Contents
