Re: (reply to unEducated Friend) - Warning signs
Posted by ff on 1/04/04
TO: Educated Friend, Mr. Connell, in my opinion, seems to fall into a picture I've
seen all too often. He misses the big picture that the most
competent scientists I've had the occassion to know are able
to grasp. I suppose there's some logical way to put it, but
let me simply state the best scientists recognize how much
they do not know, and rarely spout off about how much they do
know. Mr. Connell's statements sound all too much like another IAQ
specialist, although the lead scientist was a Ph. D., that
conducted an investigation I am familiar with. His final
report indicates that he felt it offered an answer, but in
reality...he didn't know how much he did not know (and
misapplied what he did know). Like Mr. Connell, he'll likely
never know how off track he was I agree that Mr. Connell seems unable to resist falling over
into areas that he is not qualified in and unsuspecting, well-
intended person could be injured. The above referenced
investigator also served as the chief (only) medical officer.
That's why I recommend the disclaimer be posted at the top of
the page - let people know the important information before
they get roped in. I had to laugh... In line with the above, scientists involved in the Florida
water ways disaster were shocked recently at work conducted by
a local high school student. Cyanobacteria (toxin producing)
now dominates state waters while indigenous species have been
wiped out. Phosphorous contamination has been promoted by the
agencies as the cause of the cyan dominance, ignoring other
factors. Hundreds of millions are being spent to remove
phosphorous. The student recently conducted experiments which found that
treatments with Cu based algicides (and fungicides as well -
Cu is routinely detected in sediment due to extensive
farming/discharge adjacent to many water ways) inhibit growth
in indigenous species while cyanobacteria blooms. (Yes, Mary,
something changed) Phosphorous is imply a food source for the
survivin, Cu resistant populations. I think that eventually, Mr. Connell's position that "it ain't
mold!" will be disproven by simple concepts that were ignored
or obscured by the "look at me, I know it all" approach. Last
but not least, suppression bias is likely the only thing
keeping the "it ain't mold" group floating. Mr. Connell's credibility should come from solving the
problem, by telling us what the problem is rather than what it
is not. Typically, he suggests that mold complainants either
have psychological problems or filing frivolous (and possibly
fraudulent) lawsuits. Psychological: not the answer, unless mold has an affinity for
those with psychological problems (keep in mind, we do not
have a state from Mr. Connell on his own mental health). Fraud, frivolous suits: not the answer, think about it, would
you damage your house with water, culture mold, exopoise
yourself, destroy your health just to file a lawsuit which at
best will only allow recovery of a portion of the loss? I agree with Greg Weatherman's post in that Mr. Connell should
visit Dr. Shoemaker in an open effort to enhance his (Mr.
Connell's) knowledge. ff On 1/04/04, Caoimhín P. Connell wrote:
> Hello Educated Friend:
>
> I am not sure where you got your information concerning
> industrial hygienists, however, contrary to your misnomer
> moniker, you are greatly in error. Although it is certainly
> true that some IHs may spend their entire time merely
> sampling the air in some specific space, it is equally true
> that some medical doctors spend their entire time reviewing
> insurance claims for insurance companies. However, to then
> conclude that because some medical doctors spend
their
> entire time reviewing insurance claims indicates that
> ALL medical doctors so do would be an error of
> reasoning.
>
> Contrary to your rather odd idea of what/who an industrial
> hygienist is, I know of many IHs who have never
> collected an air sample. I know of IHs who are only
> certified in sound issues; certified exclusively in
> ventilation issues; and IHs with PhD in microbiology.
> Personally, my 17 years as a forensic IH has involved
> providing expert witness testimony and services in
everything
> from fire investigations, microbiology, radiation
toxicology,
> lasers and a variety of other topics as diverse as sound (I
> performed work for the FBI on the Oklahoma Bombing case),
> ergonomics (you may enjoy reading my web page on carpal
> tunnel syndrome located at
>
> http://members.aol.com/epidemiotox/CTS/cts.html
>
> which I have provided a link for you at the bottom of the
> page) and I have an extensive background in radiation
> toxicology (you might even enjoy reading my page on radon
> located at
>
> http://members.aol.com/piobin/radon.html)
>
> As far as microbiology goes, I developed the sampling
> protocol for fungal and Bacterial entities that is now being
> adopted across the nation and I am currently an expert
> witness on three microbial cases. You may also be surprised
> to learn that I developed a laboratory fume hood evaluation
> protocol, aspects of which were adopted by ASHRAE in their
> national standard, and that I developed a new method for the
> analysis of lead in whole human blood using graphite furnace
> atomic absorption spectroscopy by applying Zeeman light-
> splitting; (oh, and did I mention that I developed a new
> method of cyanide speciation by ionchromatography while I
was
> with the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute?)
>
> With regard to your rather uneducated comments on my
> profession, next time you should learn what an IH is before
> you criticize one. So, my friend, perhaps you should follow
> your own advice when you say:
>
>
> As I have always told my children and others if you can not
> be polite; professional and educated in your response ( with
> the
> appropiate educational citations ) then it is probably
better
> that you not say anything at all thus ensuring your lack of
> knowledge is kept to yourself and not shown to the group
>
>
> Cheers,
> Caoimhín P. Connell
>
> P.S. my “Educated Friend,” you should check your spelling
and
> grammar- they are both lacking.
>
> (The opinions expressed here are exclusively my
> personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect my
> professional opinion, opinion of my employer, peers, or
> professional affiliates. The above post is for information
> only and does not reflect professional advice and is not
> intended to supercede the professional advice of others.)
>
> AMDG
Posts on this thread, including this one
- MCS and Mold, 12/31/03, by judi.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 1/01/04, by Caoimhín P. Connell.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 1/01/04, by judi.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 1/02/04, by Greg Weatherman.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 1/02/04, by Greg Weatherman.
- Re: MCS and Mold (To Judi), 1/03/04, by Caoimhín P. Connell.
- Re: MCS and Mold (To Judi), 1/03/04, by judi.
- Re: MCS and Mold (2nd reply to Judi), 1/03/04, by Caoimhín P. Connell.
- Re: MCS and Mold (reply ) Connell, 1/03/04, by Educated Friend .
- Re: MCS and Mold, 1/03/04, by judi.
- Re: MCS and Mold (reply to unEducated Friend), 1/04/04, by Caoimhín P. Connell.
- Re: (reply to unEducated Friend) - Warning signs, 1/04/04, by ff.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 3/30/04, by Michelle Grader.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 3/30/04, by Michelle Grader.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 4/12/04, by Michelle Grader.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 4/13/04, by ff.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 4/17/04, by Susan.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 4/18/04, by judi.
- Re: MCS and Mold (reply to unEducated Friend), 4/20/04, by ff.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 5/25/04, by Deano.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 5/25/04, by dd.
- Re: MCS and Mold (to CC), 6/15/04, by DD.
- Re: MCS and Mold (to CC), 6/16/04, by ff.
- Re: MCS and Mold, 10/11/04, by Angie.
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