Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: Health Effects and Investigation Methods

2. Health Effects of Indoor Molds (Continued)

2.4 Discussion

2.4.1 Summary of findings

The major findings on the health effects of mold can be summarized as follows.

• Exposure to indoor mold is associated with an increased prevalence of asthma-related symptoms, such as chronic wheezing, irritative and non-specific symptoms.
  
  
• Studies on mold exposure and the development of asthma yielded more conflicting results.
  
  
• In laboratory animal studies, instillation of fungal antigens (Penicillium and Aspergillus) and fungal cell components (1->3)-β-D-glucan) resulted in infiltration of lung tissues by lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils in rodents. Also in laboratory animals, instillation of Stachbotrys spores at non-lethal levels resulted in severe biochemical and ultrastructural changes.
  
  
• Data published to date suggest that the association between Stachybotrys chartarumand acute pulmonary hemorrhage in infants cannot be excluded.
  
  
• There is evidence from outbreak investigations and case reports that increased concentrations of airborne fungal spores resulting from environmental perturbations or inadequate control measures are associated with a higher risk of invasive mycoses in immuno-compromised individuals. No thorough epidemiological studies have assessed what airborne concentration of Aspergillus spores is required to cause an infection.