Dampness and biological factors and sick house syndrome

Nippon Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2009 May;64(3):665-71.

Dampness, biological factors and sick house syndrome.

Saijo Y, Yoshida T, Kishi R. Department of Health Science, Asahikawa Medical College, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan. y-saijo@asahikawa-med.ac.jp

Sick house syndrome is caused by not only chemicals but also dampness and biological factors. Many European and North American studies have shown that dampness associated with condensation, visible mold, moldy odor, and water-induced damage among others affects residents' health. Recent Japanese studies have also shown a similar significant relationship. Mold can cause infection and allergy, and can produce chemicals such as microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) and (1-->3)-Beta-D-glucan. Mold exposure can be analyzed using culture-based (colony forming unit count) enumeration techniques. More recently, other nonculture-based methods of measuring mold concentrations in indoor environments have been described, which may provide more valid measures of exposure. These are based on measurement of specific mold markers in dust or air, such as ergosterol, genus-specific extracellular polysaccharides or (1-->3)-Beta-D-glucan. Mites are major indoor allergens. The gold standard for measuring exposure to mite allergens is enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), but it is relatively expensive and requires specialized techniques. Several simple semiquantitative dust mites allergen test have b available in Japan.

PMID: 19502762 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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written by Maff, September 13, 2009

Mold is clearly a significant contributor to environmental Illness (EI), multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), and sick building syndrome (SBS).....but one which is often missed by both sufferers and their doctors. Many people will be unaware that molds produce volatile organic compounds which are so troublesome in these conditions, as well as causing allergic reactions. Microbial VOCs may be responsible for triggering symptoms and even acting as an initial trigger for the development of EI.

Dr. Lisa Nagy's story may be of interest to those affected in this way by mold; Dr. Nagy is a medical doctor who developed environmental illness after mold exposure and subsequently recovered and is now helping other patients do the same - read Dr. Nagy's column.