Indoor Mold: Better Coordination of Research on Health Effects and More Consistent Guidance Would Improve Federal Efforts.GAO-08-980 September 30, 2008Recent research suggests that indoor mold poses a widespread and, for some people, serious health threat. Federal agencies engage in a number of activities to address this issue, including conducting or sponsoring research. For example, in 2004 the National Academies' Institute of Medicine issued a report requested by the Department of Health and Human Services Noun 1. Department of Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979 Health and Human Services, HHS (HHS HHS Department of Health and Human Services. ) summarizing the scientific literature on mold, dampness, and human health. In addition, the Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) deals with the content of interior air that could affect health and comfort of building occupants. The IAQ may be compromised by microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), chemicals (such as carbon monoxide, radon), allergens, or any mass or energy stressor supports the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA EPA eicosapentaenoic acid. EPA abbr. eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, n.pr See acid, eicosapentaenoic. EPA, n. ) indoor air research program. With respect to the health effects of exposure to indoor mold, GAO was asked to report on (1) the conclusions of recent reviews of the scientific literature, (2) the extent to which federal research addresses data gaps, and (3) the guidance agencies are providing to the general public. GAO reviewed scientific literature on indoor mold's health effects, surveyed three agencies that conduct or sponsor indoor mold research, and analyzed an·a·lyze tr.v. an·a·lyzed, an·a·lyz·ing, an·a·lyz·es 1. To examine methodically by separating into parts and studying their interrelations. 2. Chemistry To make a chemical analysis of. 3. guidance issued by five agencies. In general, the Institute of Medicine's 2004 report, and reviews of the scientific literature published from 2005 to 2007 that GAO examined, concluded that certain adverse health effects are more clearly associated with exposure to indoor mold than others. For example, the Institute of Medicine concluded that some respiratory effects, such as exacerbation of pre-existing asthma, are associated with exposure to indoor mold but that the available evidence was not sufficient to determine whether mold and a variety of other health effects, such as the development of asthma, cancer, and acute pulmonary hemorrhage Pulmonary hemorrhage (or "pulmonary haemorrhage") refers to bleeding from the lung. See also
 d), a pre-Qur'anic prophet of Islam. Hud unsuccessfully exhorted his South Arabian people, the Ad, to worship the One God. ) address to varying extents 15 gaps
in scientific data reported by the Institute of Medicine. For example,
many of the research activities address data gaps related to asthma and
measurement methods, while other data gaps, such as those related to
toxins produced by some molds, are being minimally addressed. Further,
less than half of the ongoing mold-related research activities are
coordinated either within or across agencies. This limited coordination
is important in light of, among other things, the wide range of data
gaps identified by the Institute of Medicine and limited federal
resources. The Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality could
provide a structured mechanism for coordinating research activities on
mold and other indoor air issues by, for example, serving as a forum for
reviewing and prioritizing agencies' ongoing and planned research.
However, it currently does not do so. Despite limitations of scientific
evidence regarding a number of potential health effects of exposure to
indoor mold, enough is known that federal agencies have issued guidance
to the general public about health risks associated with exposure to
indoor mold and how to minimize mold growth and mitigate exposure. For
example, guidance issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, EPA,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency responsible for coordinating emergency planning, preparedness, risk reduction, response, and recovery. The agency works closely with state and local governments by funding emergency programs and providing technical , HHS, and HUD cites a variety of
health effects of exposure to indoor mold but in some cases omits less
common but serious effects. Moreover, while guidance on minimizing
indoor mold growth is generally consistent, guidance on mitigating
exposure to indoor mold is sometimes inconsistent about cleanup agents,
protective clothing and equipment, and sensitive populations. As a
result, the public may not be sufficiently advised of indoor mold's
potential health risks.
Recommendations Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Implemented" or "Not implemented" based on our follow up work. Director: John B. Stephenson Team: Government Accountability Office The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress, and thus an agency in the Legislative Branch of the United States Government. : Applied Research and Methods Phone: (202) 512-6225 Recommendations for Executive Action ---------- Recommendation: The Administrator, EPA, should use the Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality to help articulate and guide research priorities on indoor mold across relevant federal agencies, coordinate information sharing See data conferencing. on ongoing and planned research activities among agencies, and provide information to the public on ongoing research activities to better ensure that federal research on the health effects of exposure to indoor mold is effectively addressing research needs and efficiently using scarce federal resources. Agency Affected: Environmental Protection Agency Status: In process Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information. ---------- Recommendation: The Administrator, EPA, should use the Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality to help relevant agencies review their existing guidance to the public on indoor mold--considering the audience and purpose of the guidance documents--to better ensure that it sufficiently alerts the public, especially vulnerable populations, about the potential adverse health effects of exposure to indoor mold and educates them on how to minimize exposure in homes. The reviews should take into account the best available information and ensure that the guidance does not conflict among agencies. Agency Affected: Environmental Protection Agency Status: In process Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information. |
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