What constitutes dead mold? Is there such a thing?
Photo courtesy of News9.com
A recent news story highlights the misinformation that surrounds the issue of toxic mold. An Oklahoma City mother, a resident of public housing, alerted her property manager recently to a mold problem in her home. Debra Craig believes the mold that is covering 75-80% of the home is contributing to the family’s chronic health issues.
The property manager sent a maintenance person to check it out.
According to Craig and Channel 9 News,
“The guy looked at some of the mold that was in the hallway and ran his finger across it and told me it was dead.”
This news story quotes Debra as saying that “she’s not a mold expert, but believes without any treatment, the mold is definitely not dead.”
(View the news story here.)
I want to say to this mom, “You don’t have to be an expert to know that something is off about this. Trust your instincts.”
Our family was told not to listen to the hype about toxic mold when we uncovered massive amounts in 2007. Unfortunately we believed this advice and hired remediators who wore no masks and blew fans on the exposed mold . Our already declining health grew much worse. (Read our story here.)
Here’s the truth about indoor mold contamination like we see in the photo above:
Mold produces spores in order to reproduce. All it needs is the right conditions to keep reproducing, which is moisture. If a leak is not taken care of, mold will continue to grow. Touching visible mold does nothing to address the source.
Let’s say there is no hidden leak or that all leaks have been found and remedied. It is possible for mold to be dead?
According to the leading toxicologist in this field, Dr. Jack Thrasher, the answer is yes. But there is an important caveat,
“The dead mold colonies are still dangerous. They contain the same allergens and toxins that the living molds produce. The so-called dead mold would break up into fine particulates and shed these into the indoor environment. Most likely, they would be inhaled by the occupant.”
Furthermore, according to Thrasher, mold colonies shed fine particulates in the living state which are nano particles (0.03 to 0.3 microns).
“These minute particles are about 1000 times greater in concentration than are the spores detected during testing for airborne spores. Testers never attempt to detect the fine particulates. They wind up in a variety of places and bind to fabrics, end up in refrigerator coil dust and contaminate heating and air conditioning ducts. They also contain the allergens and toxins.”
What does this mean for this mom in Oklahoma City? I hope the publicity helps her effort to relocate.
I also hope it helps create awareness that mold is potentially hazardous – living or dead.
For more information on the subject of mold see Dr. Thrasher’s article “The Biocontaminants and Complexity of Damp Indoor spaces: More Than What Meets the Eyes.”
Also check out the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health document Preventing Occupational Respiratory Disease from Exposures Caused by Dampness in Office Buildings, Schools, and Other Nonindustrial Buildings. This is an arm of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Here is a hint of what you’ll find:
WARNING!
Occupants within damp office buildings, schools, and other nonindustrial buildings may develop respiratory symptoms and disease.
If you’re wondering about your home, office or school environment see the previous post A Beginner’s Guide to Toxic Mold.
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Andrea,
Great article and I too hope the publicity earns this family a safe home which they deserve. The administration for public housing should be ashamed if this is what they’re offering those in need and if they say this passes with the health department.
I was wondering if there is a name for the respiratory disease/asthma/issues developed from stachybotrys exposure. Also, do you know of resources for healing the lungs from the respiratory issues caused by stachy? Mine are so much better than they used to be, though not normal by any means and I’d like to work on getting them as close to health as I can.
Nebulizing glutathione can do a lot, Melanie. There are lots of remedies and ways to help the lungs recover. There is one condition called sarcoidosis. I have several papers on this if you want to email me directly. I think they would be of interest to you.
andrea@it-takes-time.com
Andrea,
Thank you. I have heard of nebulized glutathione, but am not very familiar with it . I will definitely take you up on the research you have on the subject. Interestingly enough, I have ran across sarcoidosis in trying to find answers to some of our health issues in the past.
HI Andrea,
Do you have any name of mold remediation company .
We just found some mold in our bathroom ceiling.
Thank you. i have been following your blog, story since your started.
Vivian
by the way, I live in suburbs of Chicago, IL
vivian
Hi Vivian! I recommend asking solid questions before hiring a remediator. Do they wear masks? Do they require testing? Do they contain the area to avoid the spread of spores? Trust your instincts as you interview several before making a decision.
Thank you for sharing your story. We have a mold issue and our story is so much like yours. I have removed my one daughter from our home who has migraines, dizzynesss, stomach pain, nausea, rash, bladder pain, swollen eyelids, fatigue, frequent sinus infections and nosebleeds.
Our other daughter suffers from depression and she has extreme fatigue.
I am very ill with numbness. Asthma, dizzyness, fatigue, gastro issues, chronic inflammation and brain fog etc!
We will have a place to move into within a few days. We purchased mattresses and a couch to take.
This is a horrible journey! I can’t tell you how many doctors dismissed my daughter. My husbands family labeled and judged me and my daughter.
The mental tole of being sick and having sick children is horrible.
My one daughter was taking welchol but it was not working. I have consulted a chineese herbal specialist and she is doing a little better.
Thank you for all of your information. It helps us navigate though this terrible toxicity.
Thank you.
Wow, Cathy. I’m sorry to hear, but very thankful you have made the connection. Please let me know how I can help. My direct email is andrea@it-takes-time.com. You have described the journey well.
Great article. Before we knew better, killing mold almost killed me. SO thankful to be in a good place now.
At first I thought I had bed bugs. Covering my matress set and pillows didn’t help spraying and fogging didn’t work. I noticed a strange smell which lead to the bathroom. I found a black green colored mold. It shoots string spores.
Once landed feels like a bite, and can feel it covering large body parts. What can I do?
Feel free to email me directly, Roxanne. andrea@it-takes-time.com
Hi. My name is Shelly Schultz, I’m replying after reading, and re-reading through your postings here. I have shared this with my friends and neighbors here at my apartment complex, especially, my elderly neighbors, and my 33 year old neighbor whom is having a eye completely removed for an “un- diagnosable” but rapidly progressing and deteriorating of the eye and surrounding tissues. In a man who has no previous med. Issues. He and his wife and two kids( one being my sons best friend) , have lived here at Virginia lee apartments for six years , my husband 35, my son ten , and I, 34, have lived here for eight. I’ve had nine friends die, of rapidly progressing , ” issues” since moving here. All have lived here. One collapsed just the other day while working as maintenance here, he is now in a nursing home. The dont know what caused it, he has no pre existing med. Issues, he was fine , the he just fell to the floor while MAINTENANCING these apartments. I really need help on the behave of some very sweet caring, and scared people that are stuck not knowing what to do or how to do it.
Thank you. If you email me, I would really appreciate it. I’m so scared for my son, who is. Sick and my husband. We are a hard working family, but due to the untimely death of my brother( funeral expenses) and a run of awful luck and unfathomable loss, we seem to be stuck in a place where the owner says ” spray it with some bleach,itll be fine” but it is in the roofs in the walls under the carpets and padding cause of cracks and pooling in the concrete, and it’s in every room, you can see the spores are so big and purple and have been painted over time and time again. Please email me. I have pictures. Thank you. Sorry to rant.
I’m sorry to hear all of this. Good job making this connection. Visible mold is a HUGE red flag when it comes to health. I would consider relocating as soon as possible.