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Mold & Fungal Infections
Mold Allergy and Respiratory Problems
"Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing" advises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"All molds have the potential to cause health effects. Molds can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. Others are known to produce potent toxins and/or irritants. Potential health concerns are an important reason." The U.S. EPA, March, 2001. The EPA warns people that "Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health but may not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant effects. EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasion more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. In recent years, comparative risk studies performed by EPA and its Science Advisory Board (SAB) have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health." Ninety four percent (94%) of all respiratory ailments are caused by polluted air according to the American Medical Association, which also reported that one-third of the U.S.A.'s national health bill is for causes directly attributable to indoor air pollution.
“The present [health study] results provide new evidence of the relation between workplace exposure to indoor molds and development of asthma in adulthood. Our findings suggest that indoor mold problems constitute an important occupational health hazard,” reported the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, in Environmental Health Perspectives, May, 2002. The Finnish workplace mold study estimated that the percentage of adult-onset asthma attributable to workplace mold exposure to be 35.1%." We were able to find sufficient evidence that certain respiratory problems, including symptoms in asthmatics who are sensitive to mold, are associated with exposure to mold and damp conditions. Excessive dampness influences whether mold, as well as bacteria, dust mites and other such agents, are present and thrive indoors, the committee noted. In addition, the wetness may cause chemicals and particles to be released from building materials.
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A rare ailment
known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis also was associated with
indoor mold exposure in susceptible people," as reported in the
almost 300 page
report by
the
Institute of
Medicine [division of U.S. Government's
National Academy of Sciences],
Tuesday, May 25, 2004. The study was financed by the U.S.
Government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Just a few hours of
unprotected exposure to elevated levels of airborne mold spores can
start mold growing inside one's body, and then possibly require
medical intervention to cleanse the body of internal mold growth.
Lifetime Asthma from Mold Exposure while in
the Uterus or as an Infant.
"Recent
studies have confirmed what scientists have suspected for years:
that asthma is an immune system reaction to dust, pollution and
other allergens [e.g., airborne mold spores] in the environment,
which trigger spasms and tightening of the airways of some people
who also have a genetic predisposition. Now they're zeroing in on
the genetic vulnerability. The new thinking is that asthma isn't
simply a matter of having the wrong genes. Instead, at some point in
early childhood, or possibly in the womb, an event takes place that
turns a person into a lifetime asthmatic. Scientists think the fetus
or infant is somehow exposed to a critical dose of pollutants that
cause the immune system to overreact, permanently narrowing the
airways and making them more sensitive to irritants. It might be
possible to inoculate children against the condition before this
even occurs, preventing asthma entirely."---from "Waiting to
Inhale," NEWSWEEK, March 14, 2005.
Deadly Tsunami Fungal Infection. Survivors of the Asian tsunami could be at risk of the deadly fungal infection Mucormycosis, Australian researchers said on Jan. 28, 2005. Doctors at Sydney's St George Hospital treated the Mucormycosis infection in an Australian man who was injured in the disaster. Doctors fear it could be the first case of many. This fungal disease is caused by the Mucor mold species, which is a very common mold species that readily grows in water-damaged buildings worldwide, and which is commonly found in the soil and in decaying vegetation. Mucormycosis affects the sinuses, brain, lungs, skin and kidneys. People with immune disorders are more susceptible to the infection.
Mold Skin Diseases
Coccidioides immitis mold [the cause of widespread "Valley Fever" in the southwestern USA desert cities] is on the U.S. Dept. of Human Service list of biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety, and that can potentially be utilized by terrorists to infect and kill Americans.
Moldy Food
Mold fungus spores are very small in size and can easily enter the human body by breathing [nose and mouth], eating mold spores [often contained IN food and from landing ON food], drinking mold infested water, entry through one's eyes, entry through open skin cuts and sores, and sometimes skin absorption through skin pores. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], "Most moldy foods should be thrown out. But you might be able to save molding hard cheeses, salami, and firm fruits and vegetables if you cut out not only the mold but a large area around it. Cutting the larger area around the mold is important because much of the mold growth is below the surface of the food.
"Sick Building Syndrome"
Molds and fungi growing inside buildings may be the source of indoor air-quality problems known as the "sick building syndrome." While the syndrome has been blamed on a variety of causes, from the emissions of particleboard partitions and paints to carpets and cleaning supplies, Georgia Tech research has found that metabolic gases emitted from molds and fungi may be a significant source of airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause indoor air-quality problems. The new research suggests that control measures prescribed for sick buildings may need to be altered to address microbial problems as well as building materials.
The top,
most-common mold health symptoms
are the following, in alphabetical order.
A mold victim may experience one or more symptoms:
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