TOXLAW: Posted by Sharon Kramer on 1/22/11

ACOEM New Mold Guidelines Ready Within Weeks

Seems ACOEM is not interested in any public, physician or IAQ professional comment prior to finalizing their new mold guidelines. Wonder if the US Chamber of Commerce and the Manhattan Institute think-tank are going to pay the revisers to have another “lay translation” of these written to be shared with judges, like they did for the last one?

A. January 21, 2011, Message from NIEHS to another concerned individual besides myself regarding the unveiling of ACOEM’s new mold guidelines.

“I talked with an ACOEM staff member, and the revised version of the position paper is not quite ready for publication. Once the paper is finalized, it will be posted on the public website. According to the staff member, this should take place in several weeks. I hope this information is helpful.” (I would like to think it is going to be posted with a “comment” button, but am not hopeful)

B. January 17, 2011: Request for Transparency & Oversight of Federal Funds Used to Educate US Pediatricians of Children’s Illnesses Caused by Water Damaged Buildings

C. December 1, 2010: WorkCompCentral Group Petitions ACOEM for Review of Mold Guidelines

D. November 28, 2010: Request for a two week public and ACOEM general member comment period prior to finalization of proposed revisions to the ACOEM health policy statement, ‘Adverse Human Health Effects Associated with Molds in the Indoor Environment” Copyright © 2002

E. November 29, 2010: Katy’s Exposure Blog “Exposing Environmental Health Threats And Those Responsible” Overview (told in linked pdf evidence) of the vast problems their last lopsided and unscientific guidelines have caused for many citizens and professional within this issue over the past nine years

On November 28, 2010, over ninety physicians, scientists, injured workers, employers, citizens and taxpayers sent a request to the occupational physician trade organization, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) to include public comment before finalizing their 2010 Revisions (March 2011 AOHC Session # 2207) to their highly controversial policy over mold induced illnesses, established in 2002. To assure transparency and scientific accuracy in US health policy, fair workers comp insurer claims handling practices, and to assure that US health policy guidelines established by private sector physician organizations are in the US work force and public’s best interest; a Request for Oversight of ACOEM’s policy and intended revisions was sent to President Obama, Attorney General Holder, HHS Secretary Sebelius, the Senate HELP Committee and the Congressional Education and Labor Committee. Comments by concerned scientists, physicians and the public made be read in the “Request for Oversight” link.