Moldy Buildings May Be Culprit behind Many Diseases, Experts Fear

Already reasonably certain that damp, moldy buildings are tied to asthma and other breathing problems, experts with the National Academy of Sciences are also questioning whether these structures may contribute to other serious illnesses.

Whatever the case, nothing should be left to chance, they say. They advise people to remove any mold they find as soon as possible. They also recommend stepping up research efforts to determine possible links to other health problems and to find ways to build drier structures.

Part of the problem can be traced back to the energy crisis of the 1970s. As people strove to build tighter, more energy efficient buildings, they were inadvertently creating ideal conditions for the growth of mold, bacteria, dust mites and other organisms associated with allergies and other health problems.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at May 26, 2004 10:42 AM | TrackBack