Inquiry into Biotoxin-related Illnesses in Australia

Submission 71

Executive Summary
The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) is an international trade association for indoor
air quality professionals and suppliers. Our members are often contracted to undertake
assessments of mould hazards and provide remediation services in homes and
workplaces. Many IAQA members are active in a wide range of research fields.

IAQA Australia supports public health research into the evidence for mould health effects
and testing methods. IAQA Australia supports the development of evidence-based
industry guidelines for mould assessment and remediation.

Indoor Air Quality Association

The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) is an industry association established in the
United States of America (USA) in 1995. There are currently more than 20 global
chapters in locations that include Australia, Singapore, China, India, Canada and the
USA. IAQA Australia membership is open to anyone with an interest in the indoor air
quality field. IAQA Australia is committed to serving the needs of members by increasing
and diversifying participation and providing networking and continuing professional
development opportunities.

People can spend more than 90% of their time indoors, and indoor air quality problems
can have a major impact on health and comfort. Indoor air pollution can include airborne
allergens (mould, house dust mite, pollen, cockroach, animal dander), dust particles,
combustion gases, microbes, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic

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Submission 71

aromatic compounds (PAHs). Their levels indoors can be many times greater than
outdoor air pollution levels.

Our members are often contracted to undertake assessments of mould hazards and
provide remediation services in homes and workplaces.

Collaboration
Many of our members are also members of the Australian Institute of Occupational
Hygienists (AIOH) and the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). IAQA Australia works
collaboratively with these associations.

The AIOH is Australia’s premier professional association representing the interests of

occupational hygienists. Their mission is to promote and preserve the health and
wellbeing of Australian workers through application of the knowledge, practice and
standing of occupational health and occupational hygiene

The RIA is a trade association that represents the restoration industry – specialist
cleaning contractors who clean up after flood, water-damage, fire, hoarding, squalor, and
clandestine drug laboratories. It is based in the USA and is active in Australia.

Biotoxin Enquiry Terms of Reference

The prevalence and geographic distribution of biotoxin-related illnesses in
Australia, particularly related to water-damaged buildings

To ensure our members work with evidence-based science, IAQA Australia supports
high quality public health research into this issue.

The prevalence of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) or biotoxin-

related illness in Australian patients and the treatment available to them

To ensure our members work with evidence-based science, IAQA Australia supports
high quality public health research into this issue.

Any intersection with other chronic diseases

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 Inquiry into Biotoxin-related Illnesses in Australia
Submission 71

Exposure to indoor mould and dampness has been associated with numerous health
issues, such as:

• Wheezing or asthma onset and exacerbations (Tischer CG, et al., 2011)

• Eye irritations (Baxi SN, et al., 2016)
• Respiratory irritation and infections (Mendell MJ, et al., 2011)
• Skin rashes (dermatitis) (Baxi SN, et al., 2016)
• Sinus and nose problems: Rhinosinusitis, rhinitis and sinusitis (Park JH & Cox-
Ganser JM, 2011)
• Sleeping difficulties (Tiesler CMT et al. 2015)

Adverse health reactions to mould are more likely to occur in people with allergic
sensitization or allergies to mould and those with chronic lung conditions. However, even
healthy people without known mould allergies may experience some health problems.
(Baxi SN, et al., 2016).

Investment in contemporary Australian research to discover and provide evidence

of CIRS as a chronic, multisystem disease

To ensure our members work with evidence-based science, IAQA Australia would
support quality public health research into this issue.

Research into biotoxin-related illness caused from water damaged buildings

Information gaps continue to feed significant differences in approach in the legal,

insurance, political, scientific, medical and public health arenas, as well as building
design, construction, management, and maintenance.

Any related matters

Currently, in Australia, there are limited avenues for accessing education and training in
accurately assessing the potential health effects of mould damaged buildings. IAQA
Australia supports intersectoral collaboration in developing and delivering consistent,
evidence-based guidelines for mould assessment and remediation; and education and
training programs to the remediation industry, housing associations and the public, as
appropriate.

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Education
IAQA Australia is a small organisation run by volunteers, that aims to support industry
professionals and the general public via education and by supporting the development of
evidence-based industry guidelines. Potential topics under consideration at the moment
include:

• How to Choose an Indoor Environment Professional (IEP)

• Assessing Reports by Indoor Environment Professionals
• Condensation of Water in Buildings
• What should I do after water damage?
• What should I do if I find mould?
• Mould in Buildings
• Mould Testing - Viable vs Total (Non-Viable)
• Mould Testing - ERMI and HERTSMI
• Standard of care documents for mould assessment & remediation
• Identifying & Assessing Visible Mould
• Identifying & Assessing Hidden Mould
• What is Normal Mould Ecology?
• Mould Testing - Mycometer
• Mould Remediation - Source removal
• Mould Remediation - HEPA Vacuum Cleaning
• Mould Remediation - Wet Wiping
• Mould Remediation - Fogging
• Mould Remediation - Encapsulation and/or Sealing
• Mould Remediation - Air Treatment (HEPA Air Scrubbers, Ozone, Hydroxyls)
• Is Daily Air Monitoring by an IEP Required during Mould Remediation Works?
• Mould PRV/clearance
• Mould PRV/clearance - Particle counters

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References
Baxi SN, Portnoy JM, Larenas-Linnemann D, Phipatanakul W. Exposure and Health Effects
of Fungi on Humans. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology In Practice 2016; 4 3:396-
404

Mendell MJ, Mirer AG, Cheung K, Tong M, Douwes J. Respiratory and allergic health effects
of dampness, mold, and dampness-related agents: A review of the epidemiologic evidence.
Environmental Health Perspectives 2011; 119 6:748-56.

Park JH, Cox-Ganser JM. Mold exposure and respiratory health in damp indoor
environments. Frontiers in bioscience (Elite edition) 2011; 3:757-71.

Tiesler CMT, Thiering E, Tischer C, Lehmann I, Schaaf B, von Berg A, et al. Exposure to
visible mould or dampness at home and sleep problems in children: Results from the
LISAplus study. Environmental Research 2015; 137 0:357-63.

Tischer CG, Hohmann C, Thiering E, Herbarth O, Muller A, Henderson J, et al. Meta-

analysis of mould and dampness exposure on asthma and allergy in eight European birth
cohorts: An ENRIECO initiative. Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical
Immunology 2011; 66 12:1570-9.

WA Department of Health Mould and Dampness accessed 30 July 2018

http://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/J_M/Mould-and-dampness

Contact
contact@iaqaaustralia.org au

www.iaqaaustralia.org.au

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