A variety of stakeholders filled Snyder Auditorium to attend the two-day symposium.

The topic of mold has received increased attention in recent years, with its effects on health still under investigation. Some studies have suggested an association between exposure to mycotoxins–poisonous substances released by molds–and cognitive impairment, such as memory loss. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) in May released a report called Damp Indoor Spaces and Health, which did not identify a strict causal relationship between mold and serious illness. However, the report’s authors found sufficient evidence after a review of scientific literature to conclude that mold and damp conditions are associated with asthma symptoms in asthmatics who are sensitive to mold, and to coughing, wheezing, and upper respiratory tract symptoms in otherwise healthy people. The authors call for studies that compare ways to limit moisture or eliminate mold and to evaluate whether the interventions improve health.

The report is available online at no charge at www.nap.edu/books/0309091934/html/. The study’s director, David Butler, was a keynote speaker at the symposium.

The event was hosted by the Center for Continuing Professional Education and the Department of Environmental Health.

--MD