To: "VOCALIST" <vocalist>
Subject: Re: household molds (Was: Allergy lights)
Date sent: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 10:05:10 -0500
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

> >A friend of mine (a wonderful alto) just canceled the first of two
Messiah
> >gigs because her mold allergies settled right in her throat... Is anyone
> >familiar with these and their effect?
>
> A sort of frightening article about household molds appeared in this
> Sunday's "USA Weekend" magazine (it was the cover story). The article
> focuses on a specific type of mold, Stachybotrys atra. The article
> states that this type of mold produces airborne toxins, AKA mycotoxins,

Allow me to add my 2 cents worth about allergies. First, be cautious about
sensational news articles about health issues. The media has IMO become so
much a part of the entertainment milieu that news and titillation are hard
to separate. We live in a huge biosphere of organisms in our air, water,
food and on our skin and inside our bodies. Some of these actually help us.

Molds can be a problem if allergic or immunosuppressed. Killed molds are
just as allergy stimulating as living ones. If UV lights were to be
effective at killing molds, the light would have to be able to penetrate the
walls, joists, studs, insulation, etc. of a building where the molds grow.
Even if it could, the dead molds can still trigger allergies.

HEPA filters only work in a sealed environment. They can reduce spore
counts in a closed room, but if spores are outside the room, once the door
or window opens, in come more.

It is certainly important to try to reduce sources of allergens by keeping
the humidity low enough to reduce mold and mildew but not so low that the
mucus membranes dry out. Bedrooms should be cleared of drapes, curtains,
wools, carpets that can harbor dust and dust mites, etc. The addition of
appropriate medical treatments might also be an option.

Remember, too, that some people will react to particulates without an
allergic response, so don't automatically think if you have stuffiness and
drainage that you have an allergy. Don't forget pets, particularly cats,
can contribute heartily to allergies. Also, chemicals, such as detergents
and fragrances can cause symptoms.

The best thing to do if bothered by symptoms is to check with your doctor
since even experienced physicians can find it tricky to separate out the
causes of a person's problems.

John

John Messmer, MD, Assistant Professor, Family & Community Medicine
Medical Director, Penn State Geisinger Health Group, Palmyra, PA

"Try not. Do or do not; there is no 'try'." -- Yoda