From the Editor

Mold Complaints Hit a Brick Wall

Jennie Farnsworth, Editor
jen@lionhrtpub.com

We're all mature adults, but sometimes it just feels great to be able to say, "I told you so!"

A new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, quickly brings an end to the growing debate on whether mold can cause cancer, fatigue, neurological disorders or other major health problems (see page 63).

Noreen M. Clark, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan and Chair of the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Damp Indoor Spaces and Health, says, "What little scientific data there is on links between indoor dampness and other health problems, such as fatigue and difficulty in concentrating, does not support an association.

"The committee found suggestive evidence that excessive indoor dampness might be associated with the development of asthma," she continues. "However, the evidence here was limited because alternative explanations for the association could not be ruled out with confidence. Similarly, limited evidence was found for the association between excessive indoor dampness and two other conditions: episodes of shortness of breath and lower respiratory illness in children."

Water problems in the building wall cavity and other areas should still be considered one of the major concerns that mason contractors and other building professionals need to take an active interest in solving. However, frivolous lawsuits over "black mold" can be, for the most part, considered a thing of the past.

Correction
On page 23 of the May 2004 issue of Masonry, the second-place winner in the Education — College/University category of the 2004 MCAA International Excellence Awards was published with the incorrect image. The correct images for the winning work by Brazos Masonry, Inc., and architect HHPA may be viewed below. [image corrected on web page]