This report is the result of a request by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a comprehensive review of the scientific data on the relationship between damp or moldy indoor environments and adverse health effects. In essence, the purpose was to provide a science- based, objective answer to the questions of whether mold growing in damp building spaces can cause health problems, and -- more broadly -- whether all the many factors that are related to indoor dampness can lead to illness.

The committee and its consultants took a broad- based approach to this charge. It examined studies that addressed why indoor moisture problems develop and how dampness influences mold and bacterial growth. It also examined studies on how moisture affects building materials and furnishings. It reviewed the laboratory, clinical, and epidemiologic studies on how damp indoor environments influence the health of occupants. It also looked at research on strategies for preventing dampness and cleaning contaminated spaces. Finally, it offered our perspectives on an appropriate public health response to damp indoor environments.

WASHINGTON - Damp, moldy buildings can make asthma worse and cause coughing, wheezing and other breathing problems in healthy people, but there is no good evidence that mold can cause other illnesses, the National Academy of Sciences concluded yesterday.

Nevertheless, given how commonly moisture problems occur in homes and other buildings, people should remove any mold they find as soon as possible, and more research should be done on possible links to health problems and ways to build drier structures, the academy said.

May 27--For Ben, the dog who earns his keep by sniffing out mold that lurks under carpeting and behind baseboards, it was business as usual on Wednesday.

Industrial hygienist Patrick Harter had Ben, the "mold dog," out on yet another job for AAA Environmental of Northern Illinois in McHenry, nosing for mold the way other dogs search for explosives.

What are the signs and symptoms of mold exposure? What should I do if I've been exposed to a lot of mold?

Most people have no reaction to mold (mildew). But in people who are sensitive to mold, exposure to it can cause: Sneezing; Stuffy nose; Coughing; Skin rash; Asthma attacks in people with asthma

For the past several years, mold-related insurance claims have battered the housing industry, squelching multifamily construction and making it hard for many consumers to obtain homeowners coverage.

Now, a new study links excessive indoor dampness with asthma and respiratory symptoms, and calls for federal standards on prevention measures. However, the same report says what little evidence is available does not show mold infestation causes more serious disorders, such as neurological, reproductive or gastrointestinal symptoms.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A judge on Wednesday dismissed a New York landlord's attempt to evict Bianca Jagger, former wife of the Rolling Stones lead singer, who has sued over mold she says made her $4,600-a-month apartment uninhabitable.

Jagger says she is "homeless" and has been living out of suitcases at friends' homes for almost three years because of a mold infestation in her four-room Park Avenue apartment. She was served with an eviction notice earlier this month while pursuing a $20 million lawsuit she filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan against the landlord and contractors.

Increased efforts are needed to reduce moisture in buildings to prevent possible mold-related health problems.

That is the message of a new study of particular interest to Lee County, where in the past several years mold has been suspected of causing problems at public schools and one Gateway neighborhood.

MIAMI - Retired police officers Ed and Nancy McCue are thinking about leaving their dream home near the shores of Biscayne Bay because it's in a prime target area for hurricanes.

It's not the storm threat itself that's pushing them out, but soaring insurance costs _ $1,000 a year for a homeowners' policy and an additional $2,100 for windstorm coverage, a bill that has tripled in the last five years.

I had originally promised to start book reviews in a few weeks. This book was such an easy read, I finished it in a few days. Part One - Introduction to Molds explains fungi groups; fungi reproduction; common molds found in buildings; and 'the enemies of mold'. Along the way, Richard Progovitz adds interesting historical facts about mold, such as the disccovery of penicillin. I would compare this to an introductory text book, but it's certainly livelier than anything I read in college.

Part Two talks about the health symptoms associated with mold and has a good description of allergic reactions to mold. The book has a good, but general, description of problem molds and some reactions.

Section Three is Molds and the Home. Among the usual culprits for mold, did you know mold can enter your house attached to a pet? I particularly liked Mr. Progovitz' discussion of mold and recreational vehicles, an issue I never considered.

Section Four discussed Mold Remediation Issues. There are plenty of photos showing collection techniques and laboratory testing methods. Mr. Progovitz clearly explains the difference between viable and non-viable testing. He is a strong proponent of borate for remediation.

This story has tons of amusing tidbits, including the following:

· "Trio Arrested for Breaking in and Performing Dental Work" (a December story in the Alexandria, La., Town Talk, about two people trying to help a friend who had lost part of a filling one night and couldn't wait until the dentist's office opened). · "Among the beach attractions on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten: bracing oneself in the sand at the beach at the end of the runway at Princess Juliana International Airport and trying to remain upright as airliners take off. (Jumbo jets' blasts have been known to topple vans.) A March Chicago Tribune dispatch described the giddiness of several tourists (who defied posted warnings), one of whom was "tossed in the air like a human shot put." Said another man, slowly pulling himself to his feet after a take-off, "I couldn't resist. (My wife and I) are both doing things we'd never do (back home) in Ohio."