Posted by Sharon on 1/03/10

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I received the following message from Susan Brinchman,
Director of SMH. SMH has been working VERY HARD to
encourage the CDC update their website regarding mold
induced illnesses. Their work is making a tremendous
difference over this issue to the benefit of the health and
safety of the American public.

See message below.

Sharon Kramer

Dear Friends of The Center for School Mold Help (SMH),

This is an URGENT notice to alert you to additional changes
(in Jan. '10)about the Mold and Health info on the CDC
website, due to SMH influence. I just learned of these this
AM and wanted to share the news.

I am writing to bring a major development to your
attention: in direct response to The Center for School Mold
Help's year long campaign of communications with the CDC
and Obama administration, the CDC has finally admitted in
its public information on the CDC Mold and Health section
http://www.cdc.gov/mold/dampness_facts.htm, online, that
both mold and/or dampness (even indoor dampness alone) can
be associated with the development of respiratory health
problems such as new asthma and hypersensitivity
pneumonitis in previously healthy/susceptible individuals.
This is a brand new pronouncement, as the findings of the
IOM in 2004 were not readily found on the CDC website
previously. (see below).

Now, there is a link to the IOM Damp Indoor Spaces and
Health (2004) study in the Key Resources section, found on
http://www.cdc.gov/mold/, as well as to the WHO Guide to
Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould (2009), also
directly in response to SMH's strongly worded request. The
next piece (for now) is to have the CDC summarize the WHO
findings and place them in this section. I have no doubt
this will be accomplished within a very short time, with
SMH continuing to insist on these areas, on behalf of the
public, who deserve accurate, current information about
Mold and Health from our primary United States health
agency, in the interest of warning the general public,
accomplishing prevention, and implementation of medical
strategies for diagnosis and treatment that all physicians
may be trained on. With the CDC now admitting that some of
the health problems we know are caused by mold and dampness
exist, this opens the door to improved health for a vast
number of Americans.

With the US GAO Workgroup (under CIAQ) meeting in Jan,
2010, to further address how to be consistent and warn the
US public about mold's health effects, this is a very
timely change, as all US agencies may be anticipated to
adopt this - and future - CDC information about mold and
health. That is why it is so important for it to be
accurate. Eventually, we anticipate that public health
departments will be a resource for accurate mold
information and preventative actions, through these changes.

Click here: CDC - Mold - General Information - Facts About
Mold and Dampness

<<
In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was
sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with
upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in
otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people
with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in
individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition.
The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking
indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise
healthy children.

In addition, in 2004 the IOM found sufficient evidence to
link exposure to damp indoor environments in general to
upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in
otherwise healthy people and with asthma symptoms in people
with asthma. The IOM also found limited or suggestive
evidence linking exposure to damp indoor environments in
general to shortness of breath, to respiratory illness in
otherwise healthy children and to potential development of
asthma in susceptible individuals. >>

We are not done, and will not be, until dampness and mold
in our school buildings are a thing of the past. Not till
the American public is fully educated, with resulting laws
in place to protect children and school staff from
dangerous, damp buildings. We know that there are more
health effects not mentioned by the IOM and WHO, but this
is a foundation that all else will be built on.

The reason SMH has been able to have this type of influence
is because of our nonprofit status and high level of
credibility. Our board is comprised of educators,
scientists, and community members who are committed to the
improved health of our children and ultimately, all
Americans.

We ask for your support, as the work is not yet done, but
we anticipate that in 2010 more vital results will occur
through SMH influence - the door is wide open, now, for the
desired change.

We ask that everyone receiving this email send a fully tax-
deductible donation of $1 or more to The Center for School
Mold Help, P.O. Box 655, La Mesa, CA 91944-0655, or visit
our Donation page
http://www.schoolmoldhelp.org/content/view/184/205/ to make
an online donation. Please consider sending that amount
monthly, if you can afford to do so. We need your help to
continue these accomplishments that will help protect your
family's health now and in the future. We are a 501c3
nonprofit, listed with the IRS (visit
http://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78/ and search on Center for
School Mold Help).

I wanted to share this news, as it may help with current
efforts to have the effects of mold recognized in your
local communities. Please share the CDC info with your
family, friends, physicians, attorneys, school
administrators, school boards, and more...

This truly is a day when I can wish you a Happy New Year,
with anticipation of more good news to come, finally!

Sincerely,

Susan Brinchman
Director, The Center for School Mold Help
PO Box 655
La Mesa, CA 91944-0655
www.schoolmoldhelp.org
director@schoolmoldhelp.org
nomoreschoolmold@aol.com

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