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Mold linked to health problems -- panel says more research needed

Damp or moldy buildings are linked to episodes of sniffles, coughing and wheezing in otherwise healthy people and pose a potential health threat to asthmatics already allergic to mold, a National Academies scientific panel concluded Tuesday.

But the independent scientific advisory panel also found insufficient evidence to blame indoor mold for a raft of other health problems -- from fatigue to cancer.

The 281-page report, "Damp Indoor Spaces and Health," was commissioned by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in light of rising public concern about mold. The panel reviewed existing research and did not conduct new studies

Article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/05/26/MNG7J6RQ881.DTL

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