A moldy environment can cause health problems ranging from upper
respiratory problems to no specific symptoms at all.
A suitable environment for mold growth is places with high
humidity such as basements, bathrooms or wet/damp floors or
ceilings. The origin of molds is the outdoor environments.
A moldy environment can cause health problems ranging from upper respiratory problems to no specific symptoms at all.
A suitable environment for mold growth is places with high humidity such as basements, bathrooms or wet/damp floors or ceilings. The origin of molds is the outdoor environments. They get into the buildings through an open door or a window and settle on damp surfaces and reproduce.
The resistant forms of molds are spores; these are structures that are capable of withstanding unfavorable weather changes. Disturbance of spores makes them airborne, and the inhaled airborne spores can settle in the airways and cause diseases in sensitized and susceptible individuals.
Human health problems due to mold exposure are either allergic or toxic in nature.
Allergic symptoms due to molds are similar to other aeroallergens and consist of sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, etc. The symptoms due to toxic effect of molds, however, are somewhat non-specific and may involve different organ systems of a body.
A moldy home environment is also suitable for survival and growth of other organisms such as bacteria, dust mites and insects such as cockroaches.
Sick Building Syndrome
The term “sick building syndrome” is used to refer to symptoms of individuals who have been exposed and affected by various molds, bacteria and their toxins.
Some of the reported symptoms in the literature include: headaches, dizziness, sinus congestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, cough, chest tightness, wheezing, rash, flushing, joint pain, back pain, fatigue, fainting spells, fever, chills, anxiety and depression. Depending on the severity and length of exposure, the presenting symptoms may vary.
One mold, Stachybotrys chartarum has been center of media attention, and in fact this ” black mold” has been subject of many litigations.
The story behind this “mold” is an interesting one and is worth mentioning. In 1931, horses of some villages in Ukraine became ill and subsequently died. The cause of this fatal and unusual disease was not initially identified.
The disease was thought to occur in horses only, but in later years it was also reported in sheep, swine and calf. After a long investigation, it was found that the cause of death was straw infected with a mold toxin that is now known as Stachybotrys chartarum.
This mold makes a potent and fatal toxin that can withstand temperature of 120 degrees Centigrade (248 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least one hour. One milligram of pure toxin can be fatal to a horse.
Later, when studying the building environment of moldy homes, investigators were able to identify this mold in water-damaged areas of buildings.
Why is this mold found both in farms and in buildings? The key was in similarities between straw and materials used in insulations in the buildings – the materials consisted of cellulose where this mold could live, feed and reproduce.
In review of literature on sick building syndrome, my colleagues and I did not find a single organism as a cause of this syndrome. I believe other molds, bacteria and their toxins also attribute to the sickness of people living in such moldy residences.
The best strategy to manage health problems due to moldy environment is prevention. The following are few tips that help to prevent the accumulation and spreading of the molds.
• Close windows and doors when windy, to prevent transportation of air borne spores to indoor environments.
• Locate the visible molds and destroy them with bleach or fungicides.
• Use a mold-proof shower curtain. Alternatively, you can use a disposable shower linen and change it when it gets contaminated with molds.
• Check Heat ventilation air conditioning system periodically and replace mold-damaged parts. A contaminated HVAC can distribute the mold spores and other contaminants to various areas of home environments.
• Look for damaged pipes/faucets and replace the parts as necessary.
• Check water damaged roofs and flooring and fix or change the affected parts.
• If you live in a humid building, use a dehumidifier and set the humidity below 55.
• If the moldy home is beyond repair, move to a new building. In fact, in reported literature, residences of ” sick building” environments felt better and their conditions improved shortly after moving to newer and undamaged buildings.
To send a question to Dr. Mahmoudi, e-mail him at do************@***oo.com.
Editor’s note: Have a medical question? Dr. Massoud Mahmoudi can answer it for you. He is an assistant clinical professor in the division of Allergy and Immunology at the University of California, San Francisco’s Department of Medicine, is in private practice in the South Bay, and gives presentations within the community. He is the author of the upcoming book “Allergy Cure!”
