The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has issued an evidence-based statement discussing the state of scientific knowledge as to the nature of alleged mold-related illnesses and the possible relationships between mold and indoor environments. ACOEM's statement concludes that "[c]urrent scientific evidence does not support the proposition that human health has been adversely affected by inhaled mycotoxins in the home, school, or office environment."
ACOEM's statement investigates the alleged allergy and other hypersensitivity reactions due to mold, and mold's potential toxicity and infectious nature. It concludes that "[r]ecent critical reviews of the literature concluded that indoor airborne levels of microorganisms are only weakly correlated with human disease or building-related symptoms and that a causal relationship has not been established between these complaints and indoor exposures to S. chartarum." In addition, the statement concludes that the phrase "toxic mold" is "meaningless" and what could potentially constitute a "toxic" dose of mold exposure to humans is not known at the present time.
ACOEM's statement echoes the recent findings of a report on mold and human illness issued by the Texas Medical Association's Council on Scientific Affairs.
The National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine continues on behalf of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to examine the similar questions. When it is issued in Summer of 2003, that study will have concluded an analysis of the medical science surrounding the potential health effects of mold exposure in damp indoor spaces.