Introduction and summary: Workshop on children's health and indoor mold exposure

To evaluate the health consequences for children of indoor exposure to mold s, an international workshop was organized with 15 scientists from eight co untries. The participants agreed that exposure to molds may constitute a he alth threat to children resulting in respiratory symptoms in both the upper and lower airways, an increased incidence of infections, and skin symptoms . Allergy, either to molds or to other indoor agents, also presents a healt h risk. At very high exposure levels to specific molds, nose bleeding, hemo ptysis, and pulmonary hemorrhage have been documented. Pediatricians and al lergists need to obtain information about mold and dampness in the home env ironment when examining children with chronic respiratory symptoms, recurre nt infections, or persistent fatigue and headache. Measurement techniques a re available to determine exposure. Most important, the source of dampness must be eliminated and the indoor environment must be thoroughly cleaned of molds. Key words: asthma, inflammation, molds, prevention, sampling.