Facts about Molds

Mold and other indoor air pollutants affect everyone differently. This site is not intended to offer any medical advice concerning mold or any other indoor air pollutant. Contact your health care provide for all health concerns.

Introduction to Molds

Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce. Mold spores are continually found throughout indoor and outdoor air. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, plastic, carpet and food. Just about anything will support mold growth in the right conditions. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or un-addressed. There is no practical way to eliminate all molds and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is through moisture control.

Mold Infrared Imaging

Ten Things You Should Know About Mold

Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposure may include.

Allergic reactions like headaches, stuffy nose, fatigue, nosebleeds, skin rashes
Asthma and other respiratory complaints
Sinus infection
Fibromyalgia

There is no practical way to eliminate all molds and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
If mold is a problem in your home or school, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.
Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.
Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60%) to decrease mold growth by:

Venting bathrooms, clothes dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside
Using air conditioners and de-humidifiers
Increasing ventilation
Using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing and cleaning

Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet and foods.

Health and Mold Articles

Mold Exposure & Treatment

By Victoria Weinblatt

Exposure to mold can cause a number of heath problems. Because some people are more sensitive to mold than others, they may get sick while other members of the household remain unaffected. Mold is often but not exclusively the result of flooding. Once mold is detected, it is important for family members to seek medical treatment. It is also imperative that the mold is properly removed from the house.

Mold Exposure Is Often Misdiagnosed

According to the Mold Treatment Centers of America, the symptoms resulting from mold are often misdiagnosed. It may take years for doctors and patients to realize that simply removing the mold from their home can relieve the problem. There may be 10 million people in the U.S. suffering from mold-related health problems. The most common misdiagnoses are fibromyalgia and asthma.

Common Symptoms of Mold Exposure

Homeowners frequently don't know they have a mold problem until they develop health issues. Early symptoms of mold exposure are often similar to an allergic reaction. You and your family members may find yourself sneezing more often, or rash-like skin conditions may develop. Itchy, watery eyes and headaches are also common symptoms of mold exposure. As the duration of exposure continues, the symptoms can become much worse and include nose bleeds, respiratory problems, vomiting and coughing up blood.

Treatment for Mold Exposure

Treatment for mold exposure will depend on your mold-related illness. The first step is to always remove the patient from the area that contains mold. Find a physician who is experienced with mold-related illnesses. Mold-survivor.com has a physicians list you can refer to.

Those who are hypersensitive to mold often have compromised immune systems. Strengthening the immune system using vitamins and herbal therapies is integral in successful treatment. Allergy immunotherapy desensitization (also known as hyposensitization therapy) and medication to immediately treat symptoms may be recommended. With allergy immunotherapy desensitization the patient is injected with incrementally increasing amounts of the allergen over a period of time. This allows for the body to naturally develop immunity to the allergen.

Some people have infective mold exposure. This is when fungus or molds begin to grow in the body. Treatment is implemented with antifungal medications designed to kill the fungus. These medications are oral or intravenous and are often supplemented with natural and alternative antifungal therapies.

If you are afflicted with toxic mold, treatment methods must be more intensive. Treatment may consist of nutrients given orally and by injection to help metabolize the toxins; bile binders that prevent re-absorption of the toxins by the digestive system; and possibly hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT. HBOT is an unproven therapy that, according to Johnson Medical Associates, can mobilize the body's defenses to help in expelling the mold toxins from cells and tissues. HBOT uses a pressurized chamber filled with 100% oxygen atmosphere; the patient lies inside the chamber and the pressure is increased incrementally. Light headedness is a common side effect.

Mold Allergy: Facts and Treatment

By Connie Wilson, RN

If you are allergic to molds, you will need to familiarize yourself with molds-how to identify them, how to eliminate or reduce them in your environment, and the treatment of mold allergy.

Mold is a living plant and a member of the Fungi family. Mold spores are not visible to the naked eye, so by the time mold is visible on an object, literally millions of spores are present. Mold spores are very light and easily airborne, averaging 3 microns in diameter (.0001182 inch). Mold is part of what we call house dust, the ever present little specks that swirl in sunbeams in houses. “Mold showers” occur outside on breezy days when weather conditions, in particular high humidity, favor mold growth. Mold has both an urban and rural presence, and an indoor and outdoor presence.

Unlike pollens, molds are present year-round. Consequently, molds can be the culprit causing year-round symptoms. Molds, however, do have a peak season outdoors – from the time of early spring rains to the first hard frost. The mold population is significantly reduced after snow has been on the ground for five days of longer. Indoors, mold can be a very significant factor in allergic illness on a year-round basis, with basements and crawl spaces being the single greatest source of indoor mold. A particularly virulent blackish-green mold, stachybotrys, grows well on dry wall with its high cellulose content, and exposure to it has been linked to severe immune system dysfunction.

Over-humidification, poor ventilation, and increasingly energy efficient housing that has decreased a home’s supply of fresh air all contribute to an environment that encourages mold growth in homes on a year-round basis. That, combined with the fact that we now spend 90% of our time indoors, (and 70% of that time is spent at home) greatly magnifies the health hazards of poor indoor air quality. A 1994 Harvard University School of Public Health study of 10,000 US and Canadian homes found half of those homes had conditions of water damage and mold that was associated with a 50 to 100% increase in respiratory symptoms. Anyone with a genetic predisposition to allergic illness can become allergic if exposed for long enough to high enough mold levels.

Allergists have long tested and treated patients for reactions that environmental molds have on the mucus membranes of the eyes, ears, nose, throat, sinuses, and bronchial tubes. A Mayo Clinic study reported in Newsweek in December of 2000, that a study of 210 patients with chronic sinus infections found that most had allergic fungal sinusitis. The prevailing medical opinion was that mold accounted for 6 to 7 percent of all chronic sinusitis. This study found that 93 percent of sinus infections were caused by molds.

We now know that in addition to the direct effects of exposure to environmental molds, toxins emitted by molds called mycotoxins, originating both from our external environment and our internal environment of the digestive tract, can be responsible for general symptoms such as fatigue, spaciness, depression, and immune system dysfunction.

Treatment of Mold Allergy

Source Reduction

The first tactic in mold allergy treatment is to reduce your exposure. All other treatments may be of little value unless you discover and eliminate or reduce the sources of mold in your home, car, and workplace. For some people, elimination of the sources of mold is adequate treatment by itself.
Rid your home of unwanted and unused items-old shoes, clothes, magazines, and odds and ends stored in your basement and elsewhere. They can harbor mold.
Exhaust your clothes dryer to the outside of your home and make sure the connections are solid and not leaking moisture into your home.
Exhaust the bathroom and kitchen range to the outside of your home. Use cooking techniques that reduce the amount of moisture put into the air of your home. Cover your cooking pots with lids. Use your exhaust fans when cooking, showering, or bathing.
Use dehumidifiers in your basement and in other damp areas in the summer, in particular. They can be the answer for mild moisture problems that support mold growth. Buy the best unit you can afford, preferably with an option of connecting a hose to the water reservoir to drain to a floor drain, to allow the dehumidifier to run regardless of whether or not you remember to empty the tank. The water tank itself can be a source of mold contamination. Clean it monthly.
Thoroughly dry bath towels after use. Dry clothes thoroughly after laundering. Line drying clothes in sunny weather with lower humidity is recommended to lower mold growth, but not on days with higher humidity. Never put slightly damp clothes in dark drawers or closets. Use ? cup of borax in the wash cycle per load of laundry to deter mold growth.
Old bed pillows can be a source of mold from subtle moisture accumulation that occurs through use every night. Get a new pillow every 12-18 months and dry your pillow in a clothes dryer at hot temperature setting once a month with a pair of tennis shoes. Pay special attention to the environment of your bedroom, as most people spend about a third of their life in their bedroom. Keep your bedroom free of allergens and chemicals (art and craft supplies, etc.) and houseplants which can harbor mold. Keep closet doors open as much as possible if they do not have their own ductwork for air-conditioning. Air-conditioning makes a home comfortable in part because of the reduction of humidity that makes indoor air more comfortable. Air-conditioning deters mold growth. If you do not have air-conditioning, use fans, as moving air also deters mold growth to some extent.
Use a face mask if you have unavoidable contact with high mold concentrations-such as barns, compost heaps, or while eliminating mold sources in your home.
Place pebbles on the top of your potted plants’ soil. This will not get rid of the mold that is always present on the soil, but it will decrease the number of spores that become airborne as air currents in your home set the spores into flight. Houseplants are like good friends – hard to part with. But the molds that can thrive on their soil may stand between you and better health. If you fail to improve despite other efforts, consider housing your plants with a friend for a while and see if you feel better. Cacti require dryer soil which produces less mold.
Raking leaves results in a high level of mold exposure. Wear a mask while raking or have a less sensitive person rake leaves if you are mold sensitive.
If you have forced air-heating system with ductwork, consider having your ductwork cleaned. Check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website for useful discussion on air duct cleaning and how to choose a contractor. Do not have any chemical biocides or sealants put in your home’s ductwork, as they themselves are sources of indoor air pollution and pose health hazards.
Don’t over-humidify your house. Moisture condensation on your windows in the winter is a sign of excess humidity. A guideline for indoor relative humidity if 35-50% to strike a healthy balance between too moist and too dry.
Sprinkling powdered borax in your home in moldy areas is an effective mold deterrent. Or use one ounce of Zephiran chloride (available at most pharmacies) per gallon of distilled water and use that solution as an agent to kill mold. Mold growth will recur unless you take steps to eliminate the conditions that cause its growth in the first place. Poor air circulation, darkness, and moisture all support mold growth. One part chlorine bleach mixed with10 parts water also kills mold, but chlorine exposure also has harmful effects on human health, particularly the lungs.
If you notice a musty odor in your home, or if others do, and you are unable to determine its source, consider moisture in the insulation of the walls and attic as a possible source of this odor. Improper construction techniques can cause extensive moisture problems that support phenomenal mold growth that can ruin the health of an entire family. Concrete block or cinder block, if not properly sealed, can constantly wick moisture from the surrounding environment. Straw bale homes in the humid environment of North Carolina are certain mold reservoirs. You may need to hire an environmental consultant for severe mold contamination in indoor environments.

Air Filtration

Depending on the type of furnace filter you have, replace your filter every one to six months.
Mechanical filters are available that offer many patients relief from airborne (inhalant) allergy symptoms, including those caused by molds. We recommend a HEPA filter for individual rooms that are occupied most frequently as most efficient in filtering airborne allergens, preferably when combined with a carbon block to capture volatile gases that can emit from molds. Whole house systems are also available. In addition ultraviolet light can kill mold whether from the sun or an air filtration unit. Electrostatic precipitators are helpful if you have ductwork and a main plenum with forced air heating and cooling, but they do need frequent cleaning that can be easily overlooked to maintain their efficiency.

Mold Allergy Desensitization

Due to the fact that some level of mold exposure is unavoidable, employing methods of source reduction and air filtration are often necessary. At Great Smokies Medical Center, we utilize Sensitivity Reduction Technique (SRT) to restore balance in the body to foster desensitization to allergenic substances.

Cross-reactivity

If you are allergic to environmental molds, it is likely that you are also reactive to other members of the same Fungi family that can occur in our food supply. Do not assume that you are, but be aware of where molds are in foods, and watch for any possible intolerance. Click for Dietary Sources of Molds and Yeasts.

Members of the Fungi family can also cause persistent rashes on the skin and mucus membranes, resulting in ailments including thrush, vaginitis, diaper rash, ringworm, and an overgrowth of the fungi Candida albicans, a normal inhabitant of the intestines in small populations. Refer to the information on candidiasis for further information. If you are having immune system dysfunction related to candidiasis or any of the aforementioned diseases involving fungal infections of the skin, sublingual desensitization to Candida, trichodermaphyton, and epidermaphyton can be very helpful in addressing these fungal problems.

Pharmacological and Nutritional Treatment of Mold Allergy

Antifungal drugs can be used to treat acute and chronic fungal infections. While sometimes providing symptomatic relief, they are more effective when combined with strategies that support the immune system including desensitization, environmental controls, and immune system building specific nutrient supplementation. Simply prescribing antifungal drugs without other supportive treatments is unlikely to have the desired benefits.
A Neti Pot is available from the Medical Center to use for sinus irrigation with a weak saline solution for treating chronic sinusitis.
We also utilize superficial injection therapy over acupuncture points related to the sinuses to address autonomic nervous system contributing factors that can perpetuate inflammation and swelling.
A variety of immune system building strategies are used and individualized for each patient’s specific health situation.
We aim to minimize the use of antihistamines that can ultimately have a drying effect that sets one up for infections through a loss of integrity of the mucus membranes of the respiratory tract and sinuses. In addition, drug therapies most often address symptoms but rarely treat underlying causes.
Dietary decrease of sugar is essential, as sugar intake fosters increased populations of fungi. Yeast thrives on sugar.
We use a variety of herbal, glandular, and nutritional therapies which are given for the immune system support they provide. Most patients develop a protocol which works for them and can be safely initiated at home at the first sign of allergic symptoms.

Symptoms of Fungal Exposure (Mycotoxicosis)

Susan Lillard-Roberts

Mold toxicity is often the end result with constant exposure to mold of a toxic substance. A common misconception among allergists who are untrained in this type of toxicity levels in humans, which is technically not their area of expertise unless they have trained specifically in environmental medicine with their background in immunology, is to do general allergen testing. Most tests usually result in an unequivocal result, a 2+ or less. This induces some physicians to order allergy shots, regardless. These shots are absolutely worthless (and could possibly be harmful) to a person who has been heavily exposed to these mycotoxins as they are already in a state of toxicity. If anything, this could exacerbate the problem. Because many doctors are not trained in this field, they may try to "guess" at a diagnosis.

In laymen's terms, molds produce mycotoxins. These substances, although unseen by the naked eye, are ingested and then enter the body through the skin, mucous and airways. Once ingested, mold has the requirements to colonize and spread. In doing this, it can compromise the immune system and damage everyday processes of the body. Mold and yeast are interchangeable only in their dimorphic state, which is often a big misconception, although both are fungi. There has been a theory of a connection between Autism Spectrum Disorder onset and Candida Albicans in the body. New studies are being conducted during the first quarter of 2006. Updates will follow.

Fungi, which include yeasts, moulds, smuts and mushrooms, are responsible for causing four types of mycotic (fungal) disease:

Hypersensitivity - an allergic reaction to moulds and spores;
Mycotoxicosis - poisoning by food products contaminated by fungi
Mycetismus - the ingestion of preformed toxin (toadstool poisoning)
Infection (systemic) - (Mycotoxicosis; the subject below)

The following are a list of the most common symptoms of fungal exposure (bear in mind, people never fit all of below criteria). Most people with some forms of Mycotoxicosis meet at least 8 (recent symptoms) of the following criteria:

Fibromyalgia/mps (and several correlated symptoms)
Respiratory distress, coughing, sneezing, sinusitis
Difficulty swallowing, choking, spitting up (vomiting) mucous
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Burning in the throat and lungs (similar to acid reflux and often misdiagnosed as such)
Asthmatic signs; wheezing, shortness in breath, coughing, burning in lungs, etc.
Irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, diarrhea, sharp abdominal pains, stomach lesions
Bladder, liver, spleen, or kidney pain
Dark or painful urine
Dirt-like taste in mouth, coated tongue
Food allergies/leaky gut syndrome/altered immunity
Memory loss; brain fog, slurred speech, occasionally leading to dementia
Vision problems
Swollen lymph nodes
Large boils on neck (often a sign of anaphylaxis)
Yellowing of nails, ridges, or white marks under nail
Thyroid irregularities, sometimes leading to complete dysfunction; adrenal problems
Headaches
Anxiety/depression, heart palpitations - confusion, PTSD
Extreme blood pressure, cholesterol, or triglycerides irregularities
Ringing in ears, balance problems (very common), dizziness, loss of hearing (aspergillus niger)
Chronic fatigue (also included under this classification directional confusion)
Intermittent face flushing; almost always systemic, Called the Mylar Flush (neurological))
Night head sweats, and drooling while sleeping, profuse sweating
Multiple chemical sensitivity; only upon exposure to Stachybotrys and Chaetomium
Nose bleeds (stachybotrys)
Bruising/scarring easily; rash or hives, bloody lesions all over the skin (Often systemic, see images; skin)
Reproductive system complications; infertility, changes in menstrual cycles, miscarriage
Sudden weight changes (Detoxifier genotypes tend to gain weight, non-detoxifier genotypes tend to lose weight)
Cancer
Hair loss, very brittle nails, temporary loss of fingerprints (in rare cases)
Joint/muscle stiffness and pain
Irregular heart beat/heart attack
Seizures, inadvertent body jerking, twitching, inadvertent facial movements or numbness in face
Hypersensitivity when re-exposed to molds, which can lead to anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis upon re-exposure to mycotoxin producing molds
Death, in extreme cases

Note: despite inaccurate and misleading reports by theorists regarding immuno-compromised, babies, and the elderly being more susceptible, this is a big misconception as exposure to the T-2 mycotoxins found in many types of current indoor molds will poison anyone in time; no one is immune. The reason for this conflicting information is that studies have never been conducted to prove this. If so called experts are going to make such a broad and misleading statement, they may as well say that this same category of people is more susceptible to SARS, West Nile Virus, AIDS, and cancer. The T-2 mycotoxins found in many of these molds are the exact same T-2 mycotoxins that have killed widespread groups of innocent people with Yellow Rain, a biological warfare agent.

Different mold species can have varying health effects, but it is important to remember that any excessive mold growth needs to be taken care of, regardless of the species. Any excessive mold growth can lead to increased allergies, toxicity, and house/building structural problems.

Aspergillus spp

Aspergillus is the most common genus of fungi in our environment with more than 160 different species of mold. Sixteen of these species have been documented as causing human disease. Aspergillosis is now the 2nd most common fungal infection requiring hospitalization in the United States. Exposure to aspergillus can often cause skin rashes and hair loss. Many people seek relief by taking 5,000 mcg. of biotin per day with 3,500 mgs. of MSM. Beware, many vitamins and supplements are made with the aspergillus fermentation process or other types of fungi that the vitamin manufacturers fail to reveal. For a healthy source of vitamins with no fungi, please view www.mold-help.biz; the world's first nutricutical website for providing relief from fungal exposure. The site is in its initial stages at the moment, but by February 1, it will be an entire source for healthier eating and nutritional supplements related to fungal disease. Please register on the site if you would like an update when the Mold-Help Solutions Source is ready to assist.

Aspergillus fumigatus. The most encountered species causing infection. It is seen abundantly in decomposing organic material, such as self-heating compost piles, since it readily grows at temperatures up to 55 C. People who handle contaminated material often develop hypersensitivity to the spores of Aspergillus and may suffer severe allergic reactions upon exposure.

Aspergillus flavus. The 2nd most encountered fungi in cases of Aspergillus infection. It is also known to produce the mycotoxin aflatoxin, one of the most potent carcinogens known to man. In the 1960s, 100,000 turkey poults in Great Britain died from ingesting contaminated feed. Most countries have established levels for aflatoxin in food. However, the risks associated with airborne exposure are not adequately studied and no exposure standards exist.

Aspergillus niger. The 3rd most common Aspergillus fungi associated with disease and the most common of any Aspergillus species in nature due to it’s ability to grow on a wide variety of substrates. This species may cause a “fungal ball”, which is a condition where the fungus actively proliferates in the human lung, forming a ball. It does so without invading the lung tissue. It has also been linked to hearing problems including tinnitus and hearing loss.

Aspergillus Versicolor. The most common species of Aspergillus. Among skin problems and hair loss, this fungus has been linked to severe abdominal pain, acid reflux, and vomiting.

Stachybotrys chartarum (atra) and Chaetomium globosum

This group of molds can thrive on water damaged, cellulose-rich material in buildings such as sheet rock, paper, ceiling tiles, insulation backing, wallpaper, etc. In the majority of cases where Stachybotrys is found indoors, water damage has gone unnoticed or ignored since it requires extended periods of time with increased levels of moisture for growth to occur. Stachybotrys is usually black and slimy in appearance. Events of water intrusion that are addressed quickly tends to support the growth of more xerophilic fungi such as Penicillium and Aspergillus.

Stachybotrys is another fungi that has the ability to produce mycotoxins, ones that are extremely toxic, suspected carcinogens, and immunosuppressive. Exposure to these mycotoxins can result through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure. Symptoms of exposure include dermatitis, memory loss, balance issues, acid reflux, cough, rhinitis, nose bleeds, cold and flu-like symptoms, headache, bleeding lungs, general malaise, internal lesions, seizures, and fever. Long term exposure has shown that Stachybotrys and Chaetomium can destroy the myelin sheath, leading to autoimmune disease. These are the only two fungi that can also be linked MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity). There is much confusion about Chaetomium, as it can be worse than Stachybotrys since it is so difficult to eradicate. Our mycologist tells us that it is like cast iron while Stachybotrys is easier.

Cladosporium spp.

These genera of mold are pigmented dark green to black in the front, and black on the reverse with a velvety to powdery texture. One of the most commonly isolated from indoor and outdoor air, Cladosporium spp. are found on decaying plants, woody plants, food, straw, soil, paint, textiles, and the surface of fiberglass duct liner in the interior of supply ducts.

There are over 30 species in the Cladosporium genus. The most common are C. elatum, C. herbarum, C. sphaerospermum, and C. cladosporioides. These fungi are the causative agents of skin lesions, keratitis, nail fungus, sinusitis, asthma, and pulmonary infections. Acute symptoms of exposure to Cladosporium are edema and bronchiospasms, and chronic exposure may lead to pulmonary emphysema. More commonly, it is a more causative factor for intrinsic asthma.

Fusarium spp.

A common soil fungus and inhabitant on a wide array of plants, this fungi is often found in humidifiers and has been isolated from water-damaged carpets and a variety of other building materials. Human exposure may occur through ingestion of contaminated grains and possibly through the inhalation of spores. Fusarium spp. are frequently involved with eye, skin, and nail infections. More severely it can produce hemorrhagic syndrome (alimentary toxic aleukia) in humans which is characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis, and extensive internal bleeding.

Several species can produce the trichothecene toxins which target the circulatory, alimentary, skin, and nervous systems. Vomitoxin is one such tricothecene mycotoxin that has been associated with outbreaks of acute gastrointestinal illness in humans. Zearalenone is another mycotoxin produced by Fusarium. It is similar in structure to the female sex hormone estrogen and targets the reproductive organs.

Penicillium spp.

These fungi are commonly found in soil, food, cellulose, grains, paint, carpet, wallpaper, interior fiberglass duct insulation, and decaying vegetation. Penicillium may cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, and allergic alveolitis in susceptible individuals.

The genus Penicillium has several species. The most common ones include Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium janthinellum, Penicillium marneffei, and Penicillium purpurogenum.

This fungi has been isolated from patients with keratitis, ear infections, pneumonia, endocarditis, peritonitis, and urinary tract infections. Penicillium infections are most commonly exhibited in immunosuppressed individuals. For example, P. marneffei is a fungus abundant in Southeast Asia that typically infects patients with AIDS in this area. Infection with P.marneffei is acquired via inhalation and initially results in a pulmonary infection and then spreads to other areas of the body (lymphatic system, liver, spleen, and bones), and is often fatal. An indication of infection is the appearance of papules that resemble acne on the face, trunk, and extremities.

Penicillim spp. do have the ability to produce mycotoxins. The mycotoxin known as Ochratoxin A, which is nephrotoxic and carcinogenic, may be produced by Penicillium verrucosum. Verrucosidin is another mycotoxin produced by this fungus that exhibits neurotoxity. Penicillic acid is another mycotoxin that is nephrotoxic (causes kidney and liver damage).

Permanent problems sometimes associated with fungal exposure after treatment:

Balance
Short term memory
Hearing
Sight

See Associated Illnesses after Fungal Exposure

Note: Many of these symptoms could also be the onset of other illnesses, as well, and only a skilled physician is diagnosed to give you a full and qualified diagnosis. Additionally, it is important to know that much of these symptoms will deplete after vacating the building. Diet, nutrition, and medical assistance are extremely important.

Aging mobile homes: Mold is a life-and-death issue

By LEE ROOD

Denny Newton awakened to the sound of his own choking.

Fumbling in the darkness, Newton dropped his cell phone as he called his daughter, and fell to the floor of his mobile home. All he could think to yell as he lost consciousness was "Help!" - a cry that probably saved his life.

Newton, 55, a disabled painter, had gone to bed that Friday night in early October feeling good. When he awoke, he was covered in rashes from head to toe, inside his body and out. His esophagus had become so swollen in the short time he had been sleeping that he began choking on his own saliva. What likely almost killed Newton was mold, a health hazard prevalent in the oldest mobile homes, medical experts say.

Mold produces allergens that spread over time and create potentially toxic substances known as mycotoxins, which pose serious health hazards to human beings. Among them: respiratory problems, rashes, eye irritation, migraines, fungal infections and even death.

The age of Newton's mobile home coupled with persistent water problems underneath the structure in a mobile home community off Southeast 14th Street in Des Moines likely made the environment in his home life-threatening, his doctors said.

Older weather-proofing and siding inside aged mobile homes often trap in moisture and ultimately cause mold to grow on the side of the structure.

Water that drained from a hill near Newton's mobile home at Val Vista Estates kept the ground beneath Newton's home damp for much of the past 2½ years, he said.

It's hard to know how much mold existed in the home before Newton moved in five years ago. But this year, it could be found throughout his house, particularly in his bedroom.

Newton, who already was disabled because of a tree-trimming accident years ago, wound up in the emergency room four times in two years. Each time, he came in struggling to breathe, his eyes swollen, his body covered in rashes.

The last time he came by ambulance to Broadlawns Medical Center in October, an emergency room doctor told Newton he could not return to his mobile home. That doctor and another, Dr. Angie Wheatro, Newton's general practice physician, said the timing of Newton's extreme rashes coupled with water problems beneath his home highly suggested mold was the culprit. "If someone were to ask me in court, 'Was it caused by mold?' I would say, 'Yes,' “she said on a visit Newton made to Broadlawns Hospital on Oct. 12.

Newton is not alone. Older mobile homes in areas prone to damp conditions - in flood plains or near sources of water - are particularly at risk.

Under state law, mobile home park owners are expected to follow all city, county and state codes materially affecting the health and safety of residents. That means they are responsible for all repairs to keep spaces in a "fit and habitable condition; keep common areas clean and safe; (and) maintain in good and safe working order and condition all facilities supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord," including "electric, water and sewer services."

Newton said he told the manager of Val Vista Estates the water draining near his home was making him sick. But that manager, Roger McCloney, denies Newton brought the problem to the park's attention.

"If there was, it would have been fixed a long time ago," he said.

In the past several years, 30 states, including Iowa, have adopted standard approaches to mobile home installations that include an examination of proper drainage, ground cover, soil quality and strength. Newton's trailer was built before those installation standards went into effect, so they do not apply. Newton's story does have a happy ending.

After his last trip to the hospital, he managed to sell the home to someone for $400. The sale came with a disclosure of the mold and other conditions inside the home.

Newton found a subsidized apartment at Ligutti Tower in Des Moines. His new place on the 15th floor looks out over the Iowa Statehouse.

His rent, $193 a month, no longer eats up the $400 a month he receives for disability.

And he has not had a single health problem since moving out of his mobile home.

"I can breathe so much better," he said, "and I can even smell now."

Should You Have The Air Ducts In Your Home Cleaned?

Deciding Whether or Not to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned

Knowledge about the potential benefits and possible problems of air duct cleaning is limited. Since conditions in every home are different, it is impossible to generalize about whether or not air duct cleaning in your home would be beneficial.

If no one in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if, after a visual inspection of the inside of the ducts, you see no indication that your air ducts are contaminated with large deposits of dust or mold (no musty odor or visible mold growth), having your air ducts cleaned is probably unnecessary. It is normal for the return registers to get dusty as dust-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not indicate that your air ducts are contaminated with heavy deposits of dust or debris; the registers can be easily vacuumed or removed and cleaned.

On the other hand, if family members are experiencing unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you think might be related to your home environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor.

You may consider having your air ducts cleaned simply because it seems logical that air ducts will get dirty over time and should occasionally be cleaned. While the debate about the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that it is done properly.

You should be aware that although a substance may look like mold, a positive determination of whether it is mold or not can be made only by an expert and may require laboratory analysis for final confirmation. Surface or air samples sent to a microbiology laboratory can tell you whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of sticky household tape is mold or simply a substance that resembles it.

If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy it cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.

If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place are not corrected, mold growth will recur.

As you can see, mold in Iowa can pose a number of hazards as well as health issues. The only way to know is to schedule a Home Assessment. You’re on your way to understanding your homes indoor environment.

Midwest Indoor Air Quality is committed to responsible testing for all homes in Iowa. Inspect first then test responsibly!

Call us at: 1-515-783-4669