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Re: Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker
Posted by Greg Weatherman on 1/04/05

    For those interested,

    The research done by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker (private physician), Dr.
    Ken Hudnell (EPA neurotoxicologist) and Dennis House (Retired EPA
    Statitician)has finally been published in a peer reviewed, scientific
    journal (for Daubert examination purposes). Now that the light switch
    has been turned "on", we'll see the cockroaches scurry for cover in
    the darkness. I hear someone very prominent is listed as a reviewer.
    I have inserted a link at the bottom of the page for anyone who wants
    to purchase the article to read:

    Neurotoxicology and Teratology

    A time-series study of sick building syndrome: chronic, biotoxin-
    associated illness from exposure to water-damaged buildings

    Ritchie C. Shoemaker a, b, and Dennis E. House b

    a Chronic Fatigue Center, 500 Market Street, Suite 103, Pocomoke City,
    MD 21851, United States

    b Center for Research on Biotoxin-Associated Illness, 500 Market
    Street, Suite102, Pocomoke City, MD 21851, United States

    Received 6 April 2004; revised 30 July 2004; accepted 30 July 2004.
    Available online 13 September 2004.

    Abstract

    The human health risk for chronic illnesses involving multiple body
    systems following inhalation exposure to the indoor environments of
    water-damaged buildings (WDBs) has remained poorly characterized and
    the subject of intense controversy. The current study assessed the
    hypothesis that exposure to the indoor environments of WDBs with
    visible microbial colonization was associated with illness. The study
    used a cross-sectional design with assessments at five time points,
    and the interventions of cholestyramine (CSM) therapy, exposure
    avoidance following therapy, and reexposure to the buildings after
    illness resolution. The methodological approach included oral
    administration of questionnaires, medical examinations, laboratory
    analyses, pulmonary function testing, and measurements of visual
    function. Of the 21 study volunteers, 19 completed assessment at each
    of the five time points. Data at Time Point 1 indicated multiple
    symptoms involving at least four organ systems in all study
    participants, a restrictive respiratory condition in four
    participants, and abnormally low visual contrast sensitivity (VCS) in
    18 participants. Serum leptin levels were abnormally high and alpha
    melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) levels were abnormally low.
    Assessments at Time Point 2, following 2 weeks of CSM therapy,
    indicated a highly significant improvement in health status.
    Improvement was maintained at Time Point 3, which followed exposure
    avoidance without therapy. Reexposure to the WDBs resulted in illness
    reacquisition in all participants within 1 to 7 days. Following
    another round of CSM therapy, assessments at Time Point 5 indicated a
    highly significant improvement in health status. The group-mean number
    of symptoms decreased from 14.9±0.8 S.E.M. at Time Point 1 to 1.2±0.3
    S.E.M., and the VCS deficit of approximately 50% at Time Point 1 was
    fully resolved. Leptin and MSH levels showed statistically significant
    improvement. The results indicated that CSM was an effective
    therapeutic agent, that VCS was a sensitive and specific indicator of
    neurologic function, and that illness involved systemic and
    hypothalamic processes. Although the results supported the general
    hypothesis that illness was associated with exposure to the WDBs, this
    conclusion was tempered by several study limitations. Exposure to
    specific agents was not demonstrated, study participants were not
    randomly selected, and double-blinding procedures were not used.
    Additional human and animal studies are needed to confirm this
    conclusion, investigate the role of complex mixtures of bacteria,
    fungi, mycotoxins, endotoxins, and antigens in illness causation, and
    characterize modes of action. Such data will improve the assessment of
    human health risk from chronic exposure to WDBs.

    Regards,

    Greg Weatherman
    aerobioLogical Solutions Inc.
    Arlington VA 22202

    gw@aerobiological.com


    Dr. Shoemaker's long awaited study


     
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