Frequently asked questions about possible health effects of indoor mold exposure: Answers from a panel of experts at four workshops of the Society of Hygiene, Environmental Medicine and Preventive Medicine (GHUP)

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Contributors

  • Gerhard A. Wiesmüller - , Gesundheitsamt der Stadt Köln, RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Regine Szewzyk - , Federal Environmental Agency, Germany (Author)
  • Christiane Baschien - , Federal Environmental Agency, Germany (Author)
  • Thomas Gabrio - , Formerly Baden-Württemberg State Health Office in the Stuttgart Regional Council (Author)
  • Guido Fischer - , RWTH Aachen University, Formerly Baden-Württemberg State Health Office in the Stuttgart Regional Council (Author)
  • Oliver A. Cornely - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Steffen Engelhart - , University of Bonn (Author)
  • Lothar Grün - , ECO Luftqualität + Raumklima (Author)
  • Werner J. Heinz - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Birger Heinzow - , Landesamt für Soziale Dienste (LAsD) Schleswig-Holstein (Author)
  • Thomas Hummel - , Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Interdisciplinary Center for Smell & Taste, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Julia Hurraß - , University Medical Center Freiburg (Author)
  • Herbert Lichtnecker - , Institut für Umwelt- und Arbeitsmedizin MIU GmbH (Author)
  • Rolf Merget - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Dennis Nowak - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Uta Ochmann - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Jana Panašková - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Monika Raulf-Heimsoth - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Gerhard Schultze-Werninghaus - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Hans P. Seidl - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Jens Oliver Steiß - , Justus Liebig University Giessen (Author)
  • Caroline E.W. Herr - , Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Justus Liebig University Giessen (Author)

Abstract

Scientifically based assessment of possible health risks of mold exposure is very difficult in individual cases and may lead to further questions and uncertainties rather than to valid answers and solutions. To deal with this problem, a series of four workshops was held at the Annual Conferences of the German Society of Hygiene, Environmental Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Germany in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Frequently asked questions were discussed and answered based on current scientific knowledge. These questions related to possible symptoms, specific symptoms, diseases, diagnostic procedures, therapies, reasonable exposure avoidance, prevention, potential predispositions as well as medical education. Experts and interested parties with different background knowledge worked together to find answers to these questions at the workshops. The results are presented here in detail.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)249-274
Number of pages26
Journal Umweltmedizin in Forschung und Praxis
Volume18
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Peer-reviewedNo

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0001-9713-0183/work/152545999

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Allergy, Health, Impairment of well-being, Indoor air, Infection, Mold, Olfactory effects, Risk, Risk assessment, Sensitization, Toxic effects