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Mold and Mildew Make Asthma Worse

Mold and mildew are common contaminants in basements and crawl spaces under houses. The hot and humid weather of summer is especially conducive to mold and mildew growth. A new study from Boston indicates that these fungi can boost the risk of asthma symptoms, especially among people with a genetic susceptibility. Investigators with the Childhood Asthma Management Program measured the amount of mold spores in the children’s homes at the outset of the study. Children whose homes were contaminated with more than 25,000 mold colonies per gram of household dust had more severe attacks if they also had certain variants of a gene that breaks down chitin, a compound found in fungi.
[American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, online, June 21, 2010]

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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