Mold 101

Mold and its toxic byproducts are known to suppress the immune system and even destroy its capacity to function over time. The spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and white blood cells are all part of our immune system that keep pathogens at bay, but can become susceptible to the ravages of mold if they are exposed for long enough or other chronic conditions are present. Any condition that affects the immune system or produces rampant inflammation can make a person more sensitive to mold exposure. Additionally, up to 25% of the population has issues with the HLA-DR/DQ (human leukocyte antigen) gene (3), which makes their body less able to fight and detoxify biotoxins, such as those produced by mold. This can lead to chronic inflammation and the symptoms listed below, as the body struggles to detoxify these substances.

Symptoms of Mold Exposure:

• Breathing problems

• Asthma

• Wheezing

• Coughing

• Irritated throat

• Irritated sinuses

A 2007 EPA study  determined that “Building dampness and mold raised the risk of a variety of respiratory and asthma-related health outcomes by 30 to 50 percent.” (x) Other symptoms of mold exposure include frequent urination, static shock, night sweats, blurred vision, burning, tearing eyes, depression to the point of despair, poor concentration, headaches, mental confusion, word recollection problems, lack of focus, brain fog, disorientation, vertigo, tremors, insomnia, chronic fatigue, muscle and joint soreness, all over body aches, chronic Candida (as a symptom), digestive upset like abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, even food sensitivities. Mold exposure is often related to conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome CIRS), Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and is sometimes considered to be a “biotoxin illness”, just like Lyme disease. Often times, chronic Lyme disease that simply will not resolve has mold toxicity as an underlying root.

Wreaking Havoc on the Immune System:

Mold spores and fragments: fragments that break off from mold colonies as well as the reproductive spores they give off float into the air and are breathed in, causing inflammation and allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. If the spores land on a suitable surface, they will begin to grow and colonize into mold again. Certain types of opportunistic mold spores, like Aspergillus, can even colonize inside the body of an immune compromised person (4). They are also found in contaminated food items, especially cereal grains, corn, nuts, and seeds that have been improperly stored.

Mycotoxins: these are toxic metabolic byproducts of mold. Mycotoxins can be found attached to spores floating in the air, or in contaminated food items, as well as in meat, eggs, and milk from animals that were fed mycotoxin-contaminated feed (5). Mycotoxins negatively affect nearly all systems of the body. They get trapped in the cells of the body where they continually cause inflammation and can be very difficult to remove. Even after you have moved out of a moldy environment and are no longer being exposed to active mold colonies, mycotoxins lingering in your system can continue to cause unpleasant symptoms.  While spores can often be inactivated using high temperatures like in cooking, mycotoxins generally do not degrade with heat. Consumption of mycotoxins in food can cause both acute and chronic digestive upset as well as leaky gut, which can lead to food sensitivities.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): aerosolized noxious gasses released by colonizing mold. These toxic gasses give molds their signature musty smell. They can irritate the skin, lungs, sinuses, throat, cause watery, burning eyes, and tax the body’s detox capacity. VOCs are toxic to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system (6). They must be processed and detoxified by the liver, which can cause severe damage to the liver’s function over time.

What is Mold?

Mold is not a plant or an animal but a type of fungus. Unlike plants, mold does not derive its energy from photosynthesis in the sun. On the contrary, the growth of mold is actually inhibited by ultraviolet light from the sun! Mold breaks down decaying matter and receives its nutrition from whatever material it is growing on, which include dead plants, leaves, and animals. The function of mold is to help organic material decompose so that their parts can be recycled.

Outdoors, you will find mold spores in the air, growing in soil, in piles of dead leaves, rotting wood, on or under roofing tiles, grain crops, and in compost piles. Indoors, mold can be found in carpeting, growing on drywall, on the grout in bathrooms, wood, insulation, clothing, paper like books, and even food!

 Discovering mold in your home or workplace can be very upsetting and unsettling. However, it can be a blessing in disguise as you may have found a key piece in what is holding you back from reaching optimal health.

As mentioned at the start of the article, the EPA estimates that one-third to one-half of buildings in the United States have excessive damnpness and/or mold damage. That means it could likely be a problem in your home, your relative’s home, or your neighbor’s home! Water damage and indoor dampness is not only an epidemic in the United States. In Europe, it is estimated that 1 in 6 buildings have dampness and/or mold problems. A Finnish study done in 2012 showed up to 18% of schools and up to 26% of nursing homes and hospitals have mold. The estimated cost of health problems associated with mould and damp is 450 million euros each year. If you add the cost of repairing the problem, the total reaches 1.4 billion euros (1).

Mold requires constant moisture for growth, so when a pipe leaks in a wall or a bathroom has improper ventilation, these become the ideal habitat for mold. Gypsum like that used in drywall is actually used as a nutrition additive for growing edible mushrooms in commercial settings! Hence why it becomes such a recipe for disaster when mold spores meet moisture on drywall. Air conditioners are another hidden source, and they may contribute to “cross-contamination” of an entire building, meaning the AC system will pick up mold spores in one area of the house and transport them to all the other rooms. When the temperatures are between 77-86 degrees and  relative humidity (RH) is above 50%, this makes the threat of mold colonization significantly more likely (z).

 Steps to Take If Contamination is Discovered:

1) STOP the source of moisture

2) Properly remediate the area the mold is in

3) Ensure proper ventilation

4) Allow sunshine in when possible.

Stop the Leak

The first step is obvious, if there is an overt leak or high level of humidity, it must be stopped. Sometimes, it is not easy to identify the source of mold, and having a professional inspector come in can be a lifesaver. Many mold remediation companies will do free inspections so they can give you a quote on what it will cost to professionally fix it. They often have high-quality measurement instruments to get an idea of exactly where the mold is coming from, either through a moisture meter or a thermal gun that will detect excess heat behind a wall, given off by the growth of a mold colony.

Petri dishes and big box store mold test kits are not nearly as effective for getting a reading of the type and concentration of mold in a building. The gold standard is an ERMI (environmental relative moldiness index). The testing method is a dust sample, heavy mycotoxins fall to the floor, such as those in the dreaded Stachybotrys aka “black” mold, so the ERMI is generally much more accurate than an air samples. The ERMI will tell you the exacty species of mold through PCR DNA analysis, as well as the concentration of spores.

Remediation

The name of the game when it comes to mold is “remediation”. Legally, mold remediation refers to “the removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventive activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter that was not purposely grown at that location.” If you own your home and find mold,  there are several options for remediation.

When it comes to proper remediation, DIY-ing it is usually not a wise decision unless it is a small amount of mold and only on a surface level of a non-porous material. In these cases, you can use an ozone generator to kill surface mold, but it will not penetrate through walls. You will need to run a high-powered commercial ozone generator for several hours in an unoccupied room and wait at least an hour for it to settle before re-entering, as it can otherwise damage the lungs. While this will kill mold colonies and inactivate spores, they will still remain on the surface.

You can wipe down surfaces with a mixture of white vinegar and water, while wearing a safety mask and goggles. Make sure to run an air purifier after to suck up any mold fragments or spores that may have been dislodged and floating in the air, as these can still trigger inflammatory issues like asthma when inhaled. DO NOT use bleach, especially on porous surfaces. The chlorine in bleach, which is the part that can kill mold, quickly evaporates, leaving behind water, which can soak into a non-porous surface and provide moisture for mold growth!

If the damage is more extensive or behind a wall, it is your best bet to find a professional mold remediation company with great reviews to do it for you. If proper techniques are not used, it can cause cross-contamination of the entire building and make your symptoms worse than when they started. Large chunks of drywall may need to be replaced, which can get expensive. Often times, people choose to simply remove themselves from the environment, and move to a new location.

Temporary Relief

For temporary relief, Molekule and Hi-Tech air purifiers are two great brands for effectively reducing spore concentration and mycotoxin load. HEPA filtration can be helpful, but there is also some evidence that mold spores are actually able to colonize on HEPA filters! Certain house plants like the Boston Fern and spider plants are known to cleanse the air in your home, but we aware that the soil has good drainage, or that too can become a safe haven for mold spores to colonize! Diffusing anti-fungal essential oils, such as clove, cinnamon, or tea tree oil may also be beneficial. E3 Candles and spray are also effective products to naturally purify the air when it comes to mold.

Using dehumidifiers to keep relative humidity low and your air conditioner to keep the temperature in the building between 65-75 degrees can make a big difference in preventing mold colonization. Once mold has been discovered, however, it is important to remember with any of these suggestions, that they will not eradicate a mold problem and fix any health symptoms arising therefrom, but may provide a little bit of relief while you figure out what your next move is.

When you think of toxic mold, a water-damaged building is likely the first thing that comes to mind. While this is the most common source of inhaled mold, the most common source of ingestion is improperly grown and stored foods for human consumption. Certain types of food often end up being ravaged by mold and becomes contaminated with toxic spores and mycotoxins by the time they reach the end user. Mold loves to grow on carbohydrate-rich foods and things that are meant to be stored long-term such as wheat, barley, rye, corn, nuts and seeds.

Mycotoxins

As mentioned above, cooking can kill most types of mold and inactivate spores, but mycotoxins usually remain intact. Soaking dried goods with teaspoon of baking soda and draining the water before cooking may remove some of the harmful mycotoxins. Make sure to consume bread and produce before visible mold growth begins. Unfortunately, mycotoxins can also make their way into milk, meat, and eggs of animals who were fed contaminated feed (5). The agricultural industry has known about mycotoxins and their dangers for decades, and much more extensive research has been done on how to mitigate this issue, so livestock often have binders added to their food. This is an additional benefit of eating grass-fed, pasture-raised animal products as mold may be more likely to develop on grains than fresh grasses, as well as the fact that damp, dark, poorly ventilated areas are more prone to mold contamination than areas that receive fresh air and sunlight.

There are over 100,000 types of mold, however, not all of them are dangerous to human health. At least 350 types of mold emit 21 classes of mycotoxins with over 400 different individual mycotoxins (t). Some types of mold only colonize in water-damaged buildings or outside of body, where inhaled spores and mycotoxins do damage to humans.

Aspergillus

Other opportunistic types of mold, like Aspergillus, can actually colonize inside the body on mucus membranes like those in the sinuses, lungs, digestive tract, bladder lining, vagina, etc. Usually a strong immune system would take out mold before it can colonize, but a compromised immune system will allow it to take hold and grow out of control. These membranes provide a safe haven for mold colonies, as mold requires wet, warm, and dark environments to proliferate. Mold will cause systemic inflammation, whether it was ingested, inhaled, or colonizing the body, as it releases mycotoxins that get into the person's tissues and get trapped in their cells, triggering constant chronic inflammation.  

Aspergillus mold has 180 different species, but fewer than 40 of them are known to cause infections in humans (f). Aspergillus is one of the most common species of mold identified in respiratory issues like asthma and causes widespread environmental and economic damages in the billions to crops and livestock. Aspergillus and its associated mycotoxins are most commonly found in all major cereal crops including peanuts, corn, cotton, millet, rice, sorghum, sunflower seeds, wheat, and a variety of spices. They are also found in house dust, marijuana, soil of potted house plants, dead leaves, stored grain, compost piles, or in other decaying vegetation. Aspergillus spores can even colonize in carpeting after being tracked into the house from shoes.

One of the only opportunistic mold species in humans, with the capacity to actually colonize inside the body, is Aspergillus. Diseases caused by the colonization of this type of mold are called aspergillosis. The most common route of infection is through the respiratory system after the spores are inhaled by immune compromised individuals. Pulmonary aspergillosis is a fungal-infection related lung condition that can be fatal if left untreated.

Symptoms Associated with Aspergillosis:

• Severe asthma

• Fever and chills

• Coughing up blood or excessive mucous

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

• Headaches

• Itchy irritated eyes

• Skin lesions

The mycotoxins associated with Aspergillus include aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. The main target of these toxins is the liver. They also affect the kidneys, damage the spleen, cause swelling or edema of the lower extremeties, anemia, jaundice, nausea and gastrointestinal problems. If you have a healthy immune system, it will not allow Aspergillus to colonize, but may be dangerous for immunosuppressed people and long term exposure can lower immune system function.

Pencillium

Pencillium is a blue-green mold that can also appear white, grey, yellow, pink depending on what is it growing on. It is most commonly known as the mold that green mold growing on old produce. Its texture ranges from mostly velvety to powdery and fluffy. There are over 350 species of Penicillium that have been discovered.  It is often found in indoor environments in wallpaper, carpet, furniture, and fiberglass insulation.  Penicillium is also a known contaminant in many different food items including citrus fruits, seeds, nuts, and grains. Unlike other types of mold, Penicillium has an unusual ability to thrive in low humidity environments (g). Penicillium is not able to colonize inside of body, however, inhaled and ingested spores and mycotoxins can still wreak havoc on individuals, especially those with susceptible immune systems.

Penicillium species are often responsible for many allergic reactions. Similar to other types of toxic mold, symptoms include headaches, itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, coughing, sneezing and rashes. The main mycotoxin associated with Pencillium, Ochratoxin A, can cause liver and spleen destruction, immune system suppression, and is nephrotoxic, which means that it damages the kidneys and carcinogenic, or cancer causing. Upon consumption, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting have been reported.

Penicillin is the antibiotic drug that was developed from Penicillium mold. In 1928, scientists discovered as an effective drug again staph infections, after removing a sample from a moldy cantaloupe. Individuals who are allergic to drug are also usually reactive to its presence in environment.

Black Mold

Stachbotrys aka BLACK MOLD, is one of the most dangerous and toxic types of mold. Not all black colored mold is "black mold" or Stachybotrys. It is greenish-black in color with a sticky blobby film. It grows in water-damaged buildings and on material with a high cellulose content, such as straw, fiberboard, gypsum board, and paper. Think of musty old book smell. commonly found in long-term water leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding. Constant moisture is required for its growth. Even after the environment has dried out it can lie dormant for many years, only to begin growing again if moisture reintroduced. even when dried it is dangerous is disturbed and inhaled.

It is found in water-damaged buildings, and when it dries out and is disturbed, Stachybotrys sends dangerous spores into the air.

There are several mycotoxins associated Stachybotrys with including Roridin E, which inhibits protein biosynthesis, causes neurological damage, immunosuppression, endocrine disruption, cardiovascular problems, and gastrointestinal distress. It is an s an extremely toxic trichothecene, a type of molecule that has actually been used in biowarfare! Stachybotrys also produces cyclosporine, a potent immunosuppressive toxin. The pharmaceutical drug Cyclosporine was discovered due to this compound, and is used to prevent rejection in organ transplants, for rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.

Verrucarin A, another mycotoxins, primarily affects intestinal and gastric mucosa, bone marrow, and the spleen. It causes damage to human cells by inhibiting protein and DNA synthesis, disrupting mitochondrial functions, and by producing oxidative stress (due to generation of free radicals).  Exposure to VRA can cause immunological problems, vomiting, skin dermatitis, and hemorrhagic lesions.

Stachyboyrys exposure is most dangerous for children, elderly, immunocompromised.

Symptoms include:

• Nasal irritation

• Burning

• Congestion

• Coughing

• Wheezing

• Chest tightness

• Dyspnea

Central nervous system manifestations include headache, irritability, lightheadedness, sleeping difficulty, concentration problems and mental fatigue. Deadly outcomes include acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage.

Chaetomium

Chaetomium (CG) is found in up to 49% of water-damaged buildings have been found to have CG damage (d). Chaetomium often colonizes damp or leaking roof, basements, drywall, deteriorating wood, leaky pipes, and areas around sinks. It can also be found in the outdoor areas of homes, growing on soil, decaying plant matter, or animal dung. It has a musty odor and grows in chronically moist conditions, similar to Stachybotrys, which are often found together.

Chaetomium starts off with cottony white appearance and becomes olive or grey over time. Chaetoglobosum a is the main associated mycotoxin. Symptoms of Chaetomium and chaetoglobosin (CHA) exposure include respiratory issues, coughing, cold and flu symptoms and rhinitis. CHA is highly toxic, even at minimal doses, as it disrupts cellular division and movement.  Most toxic exposure to CG is through the mycotoxins because the spores tend not to aerosolize.  Exposure to CHA has been linked to neuronal damage, peritonitis, and cutaneous lesions. This mycotoxin affects skin and nail health, can can cause permanent neurological damage of the myelin sheath. Therefore, a noticeably high incidence of autoimmune diseases have been linked to exposure of this mold such as Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, etc. Chaetomium exposure has also been linked to certain forms of Cancer.

Fusarium

Fusarium (pronounced fuse-arium) is a species of mold that commonly contaminates crops. Mycotoxins associated with this mold include fumonisins, zearealanone, Roridin E (a trichothecene). They are found in mostly in food like cereal grains, mostly wheat, corn, oats, barely, and rice.

Symptoms of Fusarium:

• Abdominal distress

• Malaise

• Diarrhea

• Emesis

• Death

Zearelanone possesses estrogenic effects (even more than soy!) and has been implicated in reproductive disorders, endocrine disruptor. ZEA alters immunity functions of the thymus and spleen, making a person more susceptible to diseases. Fumonisins impacts the kidney, liver, and cause fat metabolism disruption that leads to cancer in animals, leukoencephalomalacia, or softening of the brain, in horses, dna destruction, potential neurotoxicity, impaired vascular function and pulmonary edema in pigs (h). 

Although there is no literature linking marijuana consumption with human mycotoxin load, Fusarium is one of the most common fungal contaminants that can ruin an entire marijuana crop. Some states test for certain mold and mycotoxins in medical grade, and if a batch fails, it is often sold on the black market. Studies need to be done on the possible link between marijuana consumption and high fusarium species derived mycotoxin load in users!

These are just a few types of mold commonly encountered by humans. Other types include acremonium, alternaria, cladosporidium, mucor, trichoderma, and ulocladium. No matter what type of mold and mycotoxins you are exposed to, either through a water-damaged home, contaminated food, or internal colonization, it is important to be vigilant to the signs and symptoms of exposure! 

If you have symptoms of exposure, find mold growth in your home, or have otherwise unexplainable health problems like CIRS, CFS, unresolvable chronic Lyme, or digestive problems, getting yourself tested for mold and mycotoxins may be key in your path to regaining your health.

Testing Options

The Organic Acids Test by Great Plains Laboratory (GPL) has several markers that indicate the presence of metabolic byproducts from active internal colonization of Aspergillus mold. GPL has another fantastic test called the MycoTox test that assesses the presence of 11 different mycotoxins belonging to many different species of mold. Both of these tests can be done simultaneously from the same sample of urine. For the MycoTox test, it is often recommended to use glutathione supplements and/or infrared saunas before taking the sample to help ensure that the body will be pushing out mycotoxins if they are indeed present and in what concentrations.

As mold is present everywhere, most people have at least small detectable levels in their urine, as the body is pushing out and detoxifying these substances. In rare cases, MycoTox tests can come back with absolutely zero mycotoxins present in their urine. This does not mean mycotoxins are not present in the body, but that they are locked up within the cells where they are continually causing inflammations.

Specialized blood tests for markers C4a, MMP-9, TGF b-1, and MSH can also help determine if the body is responding to possible mold exposure. Another test to check for possible internal colonization is the MicrobiologyDx nasal swab. For this test, a long q-tip is inserted as far as possible into the sinuses. The lab cultures the sample for 30 days to check for the presence of mold, however, there are often false-negatives, as mold is extremely evasive and can grow very deep in the body’s cavities, where a swab will not be able to reach.

Take Action Against Mold

If you have confirmed or suspect mold and mycotoxin toxicity, there are many natural solutions to help strengthen your body and reduce your toxic burden. Anti-fungal botanicals include oil of oregano, thyme, clove, cinnamon, gymnema, coconut oil, garlic, and grapefruit seed extract. Nebulizing colloidal silver can be helpful for respiratory fungal infections. To strengthen the immune system, adatopgenic herbs like Schisandra, rhodiola, ginseng, and medicinal mushrooms (if tolerated due to fungal issues) like reishi or cordyceps, may be helpful.

To help the body rid itself of harmful mycotoxins, binders are an invaluable tool, as they help bind up mycotoxins and bile to be excreted out of the body. Different mycotoxins have different shapes and charges, which makes some binders more or less suitable. Effective binders include bentonite clay, zeolite, modified citrus pectin, activated charcoal, and dietary fiber. There is a pharmaceutical drug used off-label by some practitioners, called Cholestryramine, to bind up biotoxins, however, this drug may lead to severe digestive upset and eventual bile acid deficiency.

 In my clinical experience, the most effective binder for mycotoxins is BioToxin Binder by CellCore. This product has the unique ability to go into the body systemically, grabbing toxins at a cellular level and providing the cells with necessary energy to repair themselves once the toxins have been removed.

Overcoming mold and mycotoxins can be an extremely long and complicated procress, so finding a trained practitioner to guide you in your journey may prove to be more effective than going at it on your own!

(1) https://www.truthaboutmold.info/statistics

(2)

(3)

(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5490296/

(5) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5486318/#B9-ijerph-14-00632

(6) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4591661/

(z) http://pennstatehershey.adam.com/content.aspx?productid=28&pid=28&gid=000131

(t) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC145304/

(f) https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/aspergillosis/causes.html

(g) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6171444/

(h) https://www.who.int/foodsafety/FSDigest_Fumonisins_EN.pdf

(d) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11046-007-9023-x