Let’s Talk Mold
Imagine waking up every day feeling drained, foggy, and unwell, unsure of why your body is betraying you. You've seen doctors and undergone tests, but no one seems to have answers.
The culprit might be hiding in plain sight—in the walls of your home, in the air you breathe.
Mold toxicity is the invisible enemy that can turn your life upside-down, leaving you searching for answers and relief.
Welcome to the guide that could be your turning point: your roadmap to understanding, combating, and detoxifying from mold exposure.
No more sleepless nights, fatigue, allergies, no more unanswered questions—just clear, actionable steps to reclaim the health and vitality you deserve. Are you ready to take back your life?
Types of Mold
Mold can appear in various environments, such as homes, cars, and offices, due to moisture, warmth, and a suitable medium for growth. Different types of mold have their specific characteristics, health implications, and preferred habitats.
The most common types of mold found in homes include Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Stachybotrys Chartarum, often referred to as "black mold."
The health effects of these molds can vary depending on the individual's immune system, sensitivity to mold, and the duration of exposure.
Aspergillus
Aspergillus is a common indoor mold that can take various forms and colors, including white, yellow, green, or black. It is generally found in damp or water-damaged environments and frequently grows on walls, insulation, or flooring.
Aspergillus spores are generally allergenic and can lead to conditions such as asthma attacks, allergic rhinitis, lung infections, and even issues with the central nervous system. Some strains
can produce mycotoxins that can be harmful when inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with the skin.
Aspergillus is often also found in air conditioning systems in cars and can be problematic for those with pre-existing health conditions.
Studies have shown that certain types of Aspergillus, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, can cause aspergillosis, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Aspergillosis can manifest in various ways, including as allergic reactions, lung infections, or systemic diseases affecting multiple organs.
Cladosporium
Cladosporium is typically black or green and grows on both porous and non-porous materials, including wood, fabric, and even glass and plastic. It is often found on windowsills, carpets, and walls.
While generally considered less harmful than other types of mold, Cladosporium can still cause allergic reactions, including skin rash, watery eyes, and asthma symptoms.
Research indicates that Cladosporium can contribute to respiratory issues, particularly for people who are sensitive to mold. Exposure has been associated with asthma exacerbation and allergic rhinitis in some studies.
Stachybotrys Chartarum (Black Mold)
Black mold is a greenish-black mold that grows on high-cellulose, low-nitrogen materials like drywall, cardboard, and paper. It often appears in areas that have been exposed to prolonged moisture.
Stachybotrys Chartarum is known for producing mycotoxins that can be harmful when inhaled. Symptoms of exposure can include chronic coughing and sneezing, eye irritation, fatigue, and persistent headaches.
Studies on Stachybotrys Chartarum have associated it with serious health issues, including respiratory problems and neurological symptoms and serious lung damage. In extreme cases, prolonged exposure to the mycotoxins produced by this mold can lead to more severe conditions, although research is still ongoing.
Other types of mold:
Penicillium: Recognizable by its blue or green color and musty odor, it often grows on food, wallpapers, or decaying fabric. Some strains are used for antibiotic production, but others can cause respiratory issues.
Alternaria: Common in showers, bathtubs, and under sinks, it is often found in buildings that have suffered water damage. It is allergenic and can cause asthma attacks.
Mucor: A fast-growing mold that usually appears white or grayish, commonly found in places with high humidity like air conditioning systems and damp carpets. Mucormycosis is rare but can be fatal.
Fusarium: Found in soil and plants but can also grow in homes, particularly on water-damaged carpets and fabrics. Fusarium is known for its pink, white, or red hues.
Trichoderma: Often found on damp surfaces like wallpapers and carpets, Trichoderma species are usually white with green patches. This type of mold is actually used in agriculture, antibiotics, and more.
Cladosporium: As in homes, this type can also be common in cars, often on seats or upholstery.
Managing humidity, fixing leaks, and ensuring good ventilation are crucial steps in preventing mold growth in any environment. If you suspect a severe mold problem, it's best to consult professionals for assessment and removal.
Mold illness can manifest in various ways, and symptoms can range from mild to severe — and it’s often missed as a root cause, even by functional medicine doctors! It’s not always the first root cause practitioners consider when you visit them with acute or chronic health issues.
Certainly, it's important to note that mold exposure can affect different people in various ways. The same family living in the same mold-affected environment may exhibit different symptoms based on individual sensitivities, pre-existing health conditions, and immune responses. While one family member might experience severe respiratory symptoms, another may only have mild skin irritation.
Here is a general list of symptoms associated with mold exposure:
Respiratory Symptoms:
Chronic Cough: A persistent cough that doesn't go away, often irritating and disruptive.
Wheezing: A high-pitched whistling sound while breathing, typically signaling respiratory distress.
Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing, sometimes severe enough to cause discomfort or a choking sensation.
Sore Throat: Irritation or discomfort in the throat, often accompanied by dryness or scratchiness.
Nasal Congestion: Blockage in the nasal passages, leading to difficulty breathing through the nose.
Sinusitis: Inflammation of the sinuses, usually accompanied by headaches and facial pressure.
Asthma Exacerbation: Worsening of asthma symptoms, including increased coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Skin Reactions:
Skin Rash: An outbreak of bumps or red patches, often itchy, especially brown or pink.
Itchy Skin: Persistent itchiness, often leading to the urge to scratch.
Redness and Irritation: Skin becomes red and may feel inflamed or irritated, very sensitive.
Hives: Raised, itchy welts on the skin, raw skin.
Allergic Symptoms:
Sneezing: Frequent sneezing, often sudden and uncontrollable.
Ocular pruritis: Uncomfortable itchiness in the eyes (and also may appear inside of the nose and throat).
Watery Eyes: Excessive tearing or fluid discharge from the eyes.
Neurological Symptoms:
Headaches or Migraines: Persistent headaches ranging from mild to severe; migraines may also occur.
Memory Problems: Difficulties with memory retention and recall.
Difficulty Concentrating ("Brain Fog"): A feeling of being "spaced out" or having trouble focusing.
Dizziness: Feeling lightheaded, unsteady, or experiencing a loss of balance.
Numbness and Tingling: Unusual sensations often in extremities like hands and feet.
Digestive Symptoms:
Nausea: A feeling of wanting to vomit.
Abdominal Pain: Cramping or discomfort in the stomach area.
Diarrhea: Frequent loose or liquid bowel movements.
General Symptoms:
Fatigue: Extreme tiredness or lack of energy.
Weakness: A reduced ability to exert force or perform physical tasks.
Unexplained Muscle Aches: Soreness or discomfort in muscles without apparent cause.
Joint Pain: Pain or discomfort in joints.
Sensitivity to Light: Experiencing discomfort or pain when exposed to light.
Changes in Appetite: Unusual increase or decrease in hunger.
Weight Loss or Gain: Unexplained changes in body weight.
Night Sweats: Excessive sweating during the night.
Fever: Elevated body temperature.
Psychological Symptoms:
Anxiety: Feelings of excessive worry or fear.
Depression: Persistent sadness, loss of interest, and other emotional disturbances.
Irritability: Quick to become annoyed or angry.
Severe Symptoms (usually in cases of prolonged exposure or in immunocompromised individuals):
Respiratory Infections: Infections affecting the respiratory tract, often requiring medical intervention.
Pneumonia: Inflammation of the lung tissue, often caused by infection.
Pulmonary Hemorrhage: Bleeding in the lungs.
Mycotoxicosis: Toxic reactions resulting from exposure to mycotoxins produced by mold.
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS): For people who have previously been exposed to toxic molds, symptoms can be more complex and chronic, affecting multiple systems in the body.
While mold is a common environmental contaminant that can have serious health implications, identifying mold toxicity within the body is often a challenging process. Medical tests for mold exposure are not as straightforward as, say, a blood test for glucose levels or a throat swab for strep throat.
Even advanced medical tests like mycotoxin urine tests or immune response tests are not universally accepted and are still the subject of ongoing research and debate. Furthermore, symptoms of mold exposure can overlap with a range of other conditions, adding complexity to diagnosis and treatment.
Testing for Mold in the Home
Visual Inspection: Initial check for visible mold growth, especially in damp areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and around leaks.
Professional Inspection: Certified mold inspectors use high-quality measurement instruments like moisture meters and thermal guns to detect the heat given off by actively colonizing mold. Some even use mold-sniffing dogs.
Air Testing: Professional air sampling can identify type and concentration of mold spores. There are also home air sample kits you can purchase. We recommend Got Mold?
Surface Testing: Done using swabs, tape lifts, or other sampling methods. These samples are typically sent to a lab for analysis.
Bulk Testing: Material samples from the home are removed and sent to a lab for more thorough examination.
ERMI Testing: Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) testing is a DNA-based, highly reliable method that identifies and quantifies 36 different mold species in settled dust.
HERTSMI-2: Similar to ERMI but more cost-effective, this test focuses on the "big 5" mold species and is often used in conjunction with a HERTSMI scorecard to determine building safety for those sensitive to mold.
Testing for Mold in the Body
Medical History and Physical Exam: An initial evaluation by a healthcare provider experienced in mold-related illnesses.
Skin Prick Test: Determines specific mold allergies by pricking the skin with small amounts of mold spores and observing any reactions.
Blood Tests: Such as Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to detect mold-specific antibodies.
Mold-Specific IgE: A test for immune system proteins specific to mold allergens.
Pulmonary Function Tests: Conducted for those experiencing respiratory symptoms.
Imaging Tests: Such as chest X-rays or CT scans for severe respiratory conditions.
Mycotoxin Testing: Urine or blood tests to detect mycotoxins.
Biopsy: Tissue samples may be taken for severe cases, usually from the lungs or nasal passages, for microscopic examination.
If you suspect mold in your home or body, it's crucial to consult professionals for accurate testing and appropriate remediation or treatment.
Detoxification from mold exposure involves multiple approaches aimed at reducing the body's mold toxin burden and enhancing its natural detoxification processes.
Foods commonly contaminated with mold:
Grains - corn, sorghum, wheat, rice and breads made from these
Nuts - peanut, pistachio, almond, walnut, Brazil nut, hazelnut, and coconut
Fruit - dried and overripe fruits, fruit juice, tomato, lemons, jams and jellies
Cheese - Roquefort, blue, Gorgonzola, Stilton, Brie, Camembert
Processed meats - bologna, lunch meats, bacon, hamburger, salami, hot dogs, sausage
Beer - most common in home-brewed, fruit varieties
Tips for reducing exposure to mold and mycotoxins in food:
Purchase small amounts frequently.
Discard any grains, nuts, or dried fruit that looks discolored, unusual, or moldy.
Make sure that food is stored properly in a dry place and at a moderate temperature.
Do not keep food for extended periods of time. Read the “best buy” or “use by” dates.
Eat a diverse diet to reduce exposure and increase variety of nutrients.
Keep bread in the freezer.
Eat or freeze leftovers as soon as possible.
References
1. World Health Organization. Mycotoxins. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mycotoxins. Updated May 2018. Accessed March 23, 2020.
2. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service. Molds on Food: Are they Dangerous? https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/a87cdc2c-6ddd-49f0-bd1f-
393086742e68/Molds_on_Food.pdf?MOD=AJPERES. Revised August 2013. Accessed March 23, 2020.
3. Aspergillus & Aspergillosis Website. Food Allergies and Fungus. https://aspergillosis.org/food-allergies-and-fungus/. Accessed March 23, 2020.
