Research Committee Report on Diagnosis and Treatment of
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Caused by Exposure to the Interior Environment of Water-Damaged Buildings

By Shoemaker R, Mark L, McMahon S, Thrasher JD, Grimes C, July  2010

The below is an overview of the above document.  The full document can be found at the the below URL

The Mold Research Committee presents our position statement on the current state of the science regarding human health effects acquired following exposure to the multiple microbes and microbial contaminants and their metabolites found in the interior environment of water-damaged buildings (WDB). These contaminants include but are not limited to fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, and mycobacteria and their toxins; as well as inflammagens from fragments of fungal structures; and beta glucans, mannans, hemolysins, proteinases, spirocyclic drimanes and microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Exposure to these WDB environments can cause a readily identifiable illness syndrome characterized by specific metabolic disturbances stemming from lack of neuropeptide control of host inflammatory responses, genetic susceptibility and abnormal downstream inflammatory parameters that not only define the illness but also provide the academic basis for sequential therapeutic interventions

Our findings are focused on abnormal physiologic changes in health, documented by health care professionals who are actively involved with case management of those made ill from exposure in WDB. The current body of literature describing the multiple adverse health effects acquired following exposure to the interior environments of WDB is extensive. The physiology unveiled by such literature mirrors the physiologic findings in chronic inflammatory response syndromes. The literature we cite throughout this document supports the concept that exposure to the interior environment of WDB creates abnormal inflammatory responses that are both biomarkers for the presence of the illness
and guides for therapy. We note that the readily recognized abnormalities in host immune responses are initiated both by (i) the adverse effects of toxins such as mycotoxins, endotoxins and toxins made by actinomycetes; and (ii) effects of inflammagens. As the many possible sources of compounds that are found in WDB can each lead to the diversity of host responses seen, it is impossible to distinguish a unique source of such abnormal immune responses in patients with illness acquired following exposure to the interior environment of WDB

Several consensus statements have been composed in the past decade. Yet none have included (a) assessments made by physicians involved with diagnosis and treatment of these adverse health