EPA Scientists Develop Research Methods for Studying Mold
oEPA
a
www.epa.gov/research
science in ACTION
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
In 2002, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
researchers developed a DNA-based Mold Specific
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction method
(MSQPCR) for identifying and quantifying over
100 common molds and fungi. EPA, in conjunction
with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development, developed the Environmental Relative
Moldiness Index scale (known as ERMI).1
The MSQPCR method of mold analysis and the ERMI
scale for estimating mold contamination have been
developed for use in research studies related to mold
exposure and health impacts.2 These tools have been
peer reviewed for research purposes, but they have not
been validated for non-research purposes.
Research studies that used ERMI to quantify
mold & the relationship to Asthma:
Asthma afflicts about 9 percent of school-age
children in the U.S. and about 300 million people
worldwide. The World Health Organization's 2009
WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness
and Mould (www.euro.who) recommends that mold
exposures be minimized. Since most everyone is
exposed to mold at some level, EPA and academic
researchers have conducted a variety of studies
to determine if ERMI values are associated with
childhood asthma. Major research findings are in two
general areas -
• Comparison between ERMI values in asthmatic
childrens' homes vs. controls:
The ERMI values were found to be significantly
higher in asthmatic childrens' homes in Detroit,
Boston, Kansas City, and San Diego compared
to control homes. In fact, ERMI values were
significantly higher in Kansas City homes of
severely asthmatic children compared to those living
in homes with moderate asthma.3 4
• Prospective study of asthma development in
young children:
ERMI assessments were applied to a prospective
study of asthma development. Researchers and
physicians monitored the environment and health
of infants until the age of seven. The only exposure
predictive of the development of asthma for these
infants was living in high ERMI homes.5 These
infants' were often from poor, urban families living
in old homes.6 The risk of an infant developing
asthma was nearly doubled for each 10 units on the
ERMI scale.7 These and additional studies8 have
demonstrated the correlation of ERMI values in
homes with asthma in children.
Published papers:
1.	Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
2007;49:829-833.
2.	Critical Reviews in Microbiology. 2011;37:15-24.
3.	Science of the Total Environment. 2008:394:192-196.
4.	Journal of Asthma. 2013;50:155-61. 2012;55:844-854.
5.	Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. 2011;107:120-
126.
6.	Environmental Research 2013;124:67-70.
7.	Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2012;130:639-
644.
8.	Additional references supporting these findings can be found
at: www.epa.gov/microbes/moldtech.htm
Technical Contact:
David Kryak, Ph.D.
EPA National Exposure Research Laboratory
kryak. davidd@epa. gov
Learn More:
www.epa.gov/microbes/moldtech.htm

-------